New Delhi:The Government of India is waiting for a detailed project report (DPR) including details like development plan, project cost & funding, traffic projections, timelines for construction of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport at Puri.
This was informed by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu while replying to a question of BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra in Rajya Sabha today.
Shri Naidu said the Government of India has granted site clearance to the State Government of Odisha for setting up of an international greenfield airport at Puri on September 22,2023.
As per the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, the responsibility of implementation of airport projects including funding of the project, land acquisition, R&R etc rests with the concerned airport developer, the State Government in this case, he pointed out.
On delay in execution of the project, the Civil Aviation Minister said the State Government is required to prepare the DPR including details like development plan, project cost & funding, traffic projections, timelines for completion of the project etc.
Thereafter, prior to commencement of construction works, the State Government has to submit an application along with DPR to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for grant of in-principle approval, he informed.
Notably, the State Administration has identified about 1500 acres of land alongside the Puri-Brahmagiri road for the proposed airport.
In 2021, the then 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.
At that time, the State had assured all support required for establishing the airport in a record time. Now, the BJP has formed a government in the State. As the new Government has been giving emphasis to Jagannath temple and has already announced to set up Rs 500 crore corpus fund for the temple, the Puri people expect that the government will extend support for the proposed airport.