BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to attract investment to Odisha by improving infrastructure, the State Government on Friday decided to increase runway length of four airstrips to facilitate landing of big aircraft.
The airstrips identified to get longer runway are Rangeilunda in Ganjam, Jeypore in Koraput, Padmapur in Sambalpur and Baripada in Mayurbhanj district. A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here.
The runway lengthening work has already started in Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh and Angul airstrips. The runways at these airstrips will be extended to 5,000 ft.
The meeting also discussed the extension of helicopter services to different places in the State. At present, there are 28 airstrips. Twelve of those are under Government control and the rest run by private parties and erstwhile princely states.
The State Government has decided to invest `30 crore for development of the eight airstrips. Infrastructure development in the airstrips will be taken up in phased manner.
Other airstrips are located at Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Jeypore (Koraput district), Khariar (Nuapada), Bargarh, Phulbani, Rairangpur (Jharsuguda), Ganjam, Balangir, Bhawanipatna and Malkangiri.
Among other facilities, the Government will have running light system and air traffic advisory system in all its airstrips. The plan includes installation of communication and surveillance apparatus, increasing the length of runways and construction of boundary walls.
Official sources said except the airstrip at Jeypore, which will be converted into a full-fledged airport over 310 acre, the rest will be revamped and modernised. The Government had earlier proposed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop the Jharsuguda airstrip into a full-fledged airport.