Bhubaneswar: The team of officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), who were in Odisha to conduct a pre-feasibility study for setting up an international airport in Puri, has sought wind-flow data of 20 years from the State Government.
After making a field visit to Puri, the team members on Friday held a meeting with State Government official here and later left for New Delhi. During the meeting, they sought data of wind flow data from 2000 to 2020 at the proposed location at Girala near Sipasarubali area on Puri-Bramhagiri road, a senior officer of Commerce and Transport Department said.
The senior officer said the Government has already provided them the wind flow data of 30 years from 1970 to 2000. However, they sought data of another 20 years. Accordingly, the India Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar Centre has been asked to submit the data as soon possible, the officer said.
The AAI officials need wind flow data of every 3 hours at the proposed location. After examining the wind flow data, the AAI officials will able to tell about the requirement of land (length and breadth wise) and possibility of development of the airport at the site, he said.
Asked about availability of land near Sipasarubali, the Transport Department officer said, “There is no house near the proposed site. If required private land will be acquired. In total, about 1000 acre of land is available there.”
Yesterday, the AAI team officials along with Puri Collector Samarth Varma made field visits to the proposed site to assess the land required for the proposed international airport.
The District Administration has also shown the team different models for establishment of an international airport in Puri.
On New Year’s Day this year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing to set up an international airport at Puri in the name of Sri Jagannath International Airport.
