AAI says 2nd airport construction to be over by '18 in Odisha

Planning to invest about Rs 200 crore for the development of infrastructure in Odisha, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) today said construction of Odisha's second airport at Jharsuguda would be completed by May, 2018.
"The construction of the Airport at Jharsuguda would be completed by May, 2018 instead of December, 2018, the target set earlier. The AAI has plans to invest about Rs 200 crore in the state in next two to three years," AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra told reporters here.
Stating that the AAI would invest Rs 210 crore in the construction of the airport at Jharsuguda, Mohapatra said the work order have already been passed for the construction worth Rs 140 crore so far.

He said there was no shortage of funds for development of infrastructure at Jharsuguda.
The AAI officials at a meeting with the chief secretary A P Padhi raised issues like the shifting of power line, providing one dedicated power line to the airport, water supply and road connectivity to the airport, deployment of security forces and fire personnel, forest clearance of balance land, raising of boundary wall and others.
Collector, Jharsuguda Bibhuti Pattnaik, who was present at the meeting said that the tender has been issued for construction of the road to the airport.

The Collector said the remaining matters with regard to balance land acquisition will be over after crop cutting by the farmers.

The state government had, meanwhile, handed over 296.5 acres of land to AAI for development of the Airport at Jharsuguda.
Mohapatra said that the terminal building will be constructed to support 300 passengers.
"Jharsuguda has good potential for regional as well as intra-nation air connectivity. AAI would take all possible steps to develop it as a vibrant airport," he said.