Paradip airstrip project on track

The ambitious project envisaged by the Odisha government was stuck in the cold store as unavailability of required land had posed a stumbling block to the much-awaited airstrip.

The project was grounded due to various bottlenecks and had failed to take off following the long-standing land row between the government and Paradip Port Trust (PPT).

"With amicable settlement of the land row recently, signs are positive for re-launch of the airstrip project," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Paradip, Surajit Das, said today.

PPT had laid claim over a patch of land at Bhitargada that was earmarked for the airstrip project on the outskirts of the port town. It had moved court challenging acquisition of the land on the ground that it had legal right over it under the provisions of the Major Ports of India Act.

However, PPT has recently agreed to withdraw the litigation from court and part with the land for the airstrip project, the ADM claimed.

"Consensus has emerged. Talks held recently should yield results. By all indications, land row involving the state government and the port would be resolved soon", said Narayan Chandra Jena, Collector of Jagatsinghpur.

PPT authorities have given consent to part with the land for use of the state government in different patches. The state government had asked for land within the port limits for the airstrip, state government offices and institutions, maritime academy, fisheries and extension of irrigation canal. more