locals and industry bodies from Baleswar and Mayurbhanj districts have hailed the move to renovate the Rasgobindapur airfield. It is part of a project under which four airstrips of the State would be renovated and made operational.
Meanwhile, Baleswar MP RK Jena was felicitated by various organisations for his initiative to bring to the knowledge of the Union Minster about the worthy airstrip lying in dilapidated state.
Besides, raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, Jena had sent a proposal to the Centre for considering renovation of the old airstrip through the Chief Secretary of Odisha. Barely one and a half month later, a high level team visiting the State studied the on ground condition of the Rasgobindapur airfield.
“In India the airfields are made in an average population of about 60-70 lakh and several States have more than one airstrips having population even with 30-40 lakh. But Odisha has been long neglected on this front and has only one in Bhubaneswar which is operational. Recently, the Jharsuguda airstrip is undertaken. The Rasgobindpur airstrip which is about 11,000-foot long, built way back during the Second World War, was lying unused,” said Jena, adding that it was a great satisfaction that finally the airstrip would be taken up for renovation.
The major concrete runway of the airstrip is in still intact. A cosmetic touch would be required to renovate it. Once brought back to use, the airstrip would prove a boon for the entire north Odisha.
Besides giving a boost to the trade, commerce and industrial activities, it could be very helpful during time of natural calamities for mobilizing men, relief materials, rescue and evacuation measures for the coastal region, including Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak , Keonjhar and Jajpur.
The Centre has a plan to develop 200 airfields in the coming years.