After 4 years of dogged pursuit of the State Government, now the City Side Development Master Plan of the Biju Patnaik airport is ready.

Since 2005, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approached Prafulla Patel several times for modernization of the airport.

The Union Minister Civil Aviation never says ‘no’, but really modernization work is moving at a snail’s pace.

However it is a matter of great relief that Airports Authority of India (AAI) has prepared the Master Plan after a great persuasion, revealed a senior officer.

Now Biju Patnaik airport has been included in the first list of 35 non-metro airports for City Side Development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Bhubaneswar is connected with Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hydrabad , Vizag and Raipur.

13 flights of Air India, King Fisher, Jet Lite and Indigo operating daily from Bhubaneswar.

Now runway has been expanded from 9,000 feet to 10,500 feet recently, which will be added another 1500 feet, revealed the plan.

Domestic Passenger Terminal Building has been erected nicely and external view of the City Side looks elegant.

Another 17 acres of land will be acquired by the authorities for the expansion project. 

Secondly there will be a straight approach road from Sachivalaya Marg to Biju Patnaik airport.

Government has acquired private road for straightening the road and demarcation has already been done.

With new straight road, it will be a smooth entry to the airport, instead of few curves here and there, said the officer.

Now from Capital Hospital square, a turn to left and then covering the road a turn to right takes the commuter to the airport area.

Accordingly the Department of Works has started taking up construction from the airport side.