Affirming its resolve to strengthen the aviation sector in Odisha, the Centre on Monday announced ambitious plans to revive defunct airstrips in the State in a significant way. This was stated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who inaugurated the Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference in Bhubaneswar.
Besides taking concrete steps for the revival of defunct airstrips in Odisha, the Centre would also facilitate the operationalisation of new facilities. As part of steps to boost regional air connectivity, 22 airstrips in the state which are not functioning at present will soon be made operational, the Minister said.
Stating that the proposed Puri airport project is making steady progress, Naidu said the airport has already received land and necessary clearances. Ground operations are expected to begin shortly for the much-awaited airport, to be named after Lord Jagannath.
Naidu said the Centre has amended guidelines for seaplane operations. Seaplane services will start in the country from October this year, with Odisha’s Chilika Lake identified as one of the destinations. Besides Chilika, seaplanes will also operate in Andaman, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Naidu outlined Centre’s roadmap for modernizing aviation infrastructure, expanding regional connectivity, and fostering innovation in drones and emergency air services. Odisha’s hosting of this landmark event reaffirms its emergence as a strategic aviation hub in Eastern India and a committed partner in the nation’s civil aviation growth story.
The conference featured high-level deliberations on airport and heliport development, the UDAN scheme, aviation skill-building, drone ecosystem expansion, and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). Dedicated sessions with state delegations from Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands allowed for tailored discussions on region-specific aviation priorities.
Industry leaders and officials from MoCA, AAI, DGCA, BCAS, and AERA participated in parallel sessions focused on investment opportunities, public-private partnerships, and policy support.
