Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 23: The Centre has requested a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri, Odisha. This DPR should include the development plan, project costs, funding sources, traffic projections, and construction timelines.
Responding to BJD MP Dr. Sasmit Patra’s query in the Rajya Sabha about delays in the project, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu explained that the state government needs to submit an application with the DPR to the Ministry for in-principle approval.
Under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy of 2008, the responsibility for implementing airport projects, including funding, land acquisition, and resettlement, falls on the state government, Naidu noted.
The Centre had granted site clearance for the international greenfield airport at Puri on September 22, 2023. Approximately 1,500 acres of land near the Puri-Brahmagiri road has been earmarked for this airport.
In April, Fairfax, Adani Group, and GMR expressed interest in developing the Rs 2,203-crore airport near Sipasarubali in Puri. The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) floated a tender for a public-private partnership (PPP) in February of this year, according to BusinessLine.
The airport is expected to operate internationally from its first phase, pending regulatory approvals. The total land area for the airport will be around 1,184 acres, with 100 acres designated for city-side development. A 4-lane access road will connect to the airport.
Initially, the airport will have a capacity to handle 4.6 million passengers per annum (MPPA), expanding to 10.18 MPPA in phase 2 and 16.69 MPPA in phase 3. Construction is projected to be completed within three years.
