Chief Secretary BK Patnaik has once again sought to impress upon the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation the need to take immediate steps to declare the Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar an international one.
Writing a letter to Union Civil Aviation Secretary KN Shrivastava, the Chief Secretary has promised that State Government would provide all support for the steps to be initiated to scale up the airport to international standards.
During the inauguration of the new domestic terminal of the Biju Patnaik Airport a couple of months ago, it had been stated that the airport would start international operations by June this year. Accordingly, several airlines evinced keen interest to commence international flights from Bhubaneswar.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had also announced that work on development of an international tarmac replete with customs and immigration and quarantine facilities would be initiated immediately.
Reminding Shrivastava of the discussions held on March 5 regarding declaration of the airport as an international one, the Chief Secretary has assured him of providing all facilities for the purpose.
“The State Government has submitted its willingness to provide required facilities such as immigration services, health services and animal and plant quarantine services at the Biju Patnaik Airport to facilitate its declaration as an international airport,” the Chief Secretary’s letter stated.
Referring to a communication of the Civil Aviation Ministry on the subject, Patnaik has urged Shrivastava to take all necessary steps for the purpose at the earliest.
Meanwhile, restructuring work of the existing domestic terminal is going on in full swing. According to the plan of AAI Chairman VP Agarwal, the international terminal would be complemented by a new technical control tower and runway extension.