Some progress on land acquisition for Jharsuguda airport

Following report is from the Hindu:

Process to be initiated for alienation of 126 acres of land

In a bid to convert the existing airstrip at Jharsuguda into a full-fledged domestic airport, the State government has given its approval for alienation of government land measuring 126.41 acres in Jharsuguda district.

Revenue and Disaster Management department has been asked to initiate the process of alienation of 126 acres of land in consultation with Jharsuguda district magistrate and airport director of Airport Authority of India, Biju Patnaik Airport.

It is to be noted that Jharsuguda district magistrate had identified 191.26 acres comprising both government and private land in three villages such as Talmal, Durlaga and Jharsuguda TU-8 (Malimunda). Around 30 villagers would lose their land.

Land patches in three villages would help meet the additional land requirement for basic strip, hanger and stop way of Jharsuguda airport.

In January last, both State government and AAI officials had visited the Jharsuguda airport to assess the land requirement for development of Jharsuguda airport. The existing airport has around 815 acres of land and another 191 acres would be required for its expansion.

Additional acquisition of land would help construction of a 6,000-foot-long-runway. It is proposed that the development of Jharsuguda airport would be completed within two years. The AAI had proposed to invest in development of airport in two phases. The investment in the second phase would depend on the traffic of the airport.

At present, Biju Patanaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the only airport available in the State. Besides, there are 16 airstrips and 12 helipads for landing of aircraft and helicopters. On completion of the proposed development, Jharsuguda would be the second full-fledged airport in the State after Bhubaneswar. Initially, there is a proposal to get the airport ready for ATR 72-500 type of aircraft operations and subsequently for AB0321.

Industrial hub

Of late Jharsuguda has emerged an industrial hub in the State. Several thermal power stations, steel plants, aluminium smelter and small sponge iron plants have come up within 70 kilometre radius of the town. The proposed airport would ease tension of business executives to reach capital city.

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• Additional acquisition of land will help construction of a 6,000-foot-long-runway

• It is estimated that the development of the airport will be completed in two years