Odisha’s Rourkela Airport Gets Environmental Clearance For Upgradation

Rourkela: Ahead of the Men’s Hockey World Cup at Rourkela in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, the airport in the city has obtained environmental clearance for upgradation.

Following a letter written by Chief Minister Naveen Patnak to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to expedite upgradation of the airport from Code-2B to Code-3C, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on Saturday granted the environmental clearance.

After the upgradation, the airport can operate ATR- 72/Q-400 type aircraft under RCS-UDAN scheme. The proposal involves extension and strengthening of the runway, construction of ATC tower, provision of taxiway and construction of prefabricated terminal building.

The estimated cost of the project, implemented by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), is Rs 50 crore. With the upgradation, the area of Rourkela airport will increase from 102 acre to 250 acre.

While granting the environmental clearance, the SEIAA has set several conditions including waste water treatment, rainwater harvesting, solid waste disposal, creation of green zone, zero liquid discharge, traffic and transportation, pollution mitigation, energy conservation, on-site and off-site emergency, disaster management and fire safety.

It may be noted that Odisha will host the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup at Rourkela and Bhubaneswar in 2023. The state government is constructing a world class stadium in Rourkela and developing Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for the purpose.