The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India can consider for construction of a new green field modern airport at Brahmapur, provided the State Government identifies suitable land and then applies for ‘in-principle’ approval.
Director of Union Ministry of Civil Aviation Venkatramana R Hegde in his recent reply has clarified this to a representation submitted by the former Deputy Speaker of Assembly and senior BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda to the Prime Minister.
Panda had submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the Prime Minister in July this year requesting him to consider the construction of a new modern airport at the heritage city of Brahmapur mooting that the existing Rangailunda airstrip is not suitable for developing into full-fledged commercial airport with no scope for its future expansion. After due examination and consultation with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Hegde submitted a copy of the reply to the PMO for information.
Hegde in his reply has stated that a team of AAI who had carried out a pre-feasibility study of the existing airstrip at Rangailunda in August 2013 in their report had stated that the existing air field is used for fair weather day time operation by private operators only with small aircraft. He pointed out that, as per the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) will be implemented only by way of reviving un-served airport routes.
Keeping the limitations of NCAP-2016 along with the Regional
Connectivity Scheme and least scope for the exiting Rangailunda Airstrip for future expansion to operate all-weather commercial flights in mind, Panda urged upon the State Government to identify a large patch of suitable land in and around Brahmapur for construction of new green field all-weather modern airport.
He urged the State to submit a proposal to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for obtaining in-principle approval for the new airport for economic prosperity of south Odisha in addition to the up-gradation of the existing Rangailunda airstrip for operation of small aircrafts under RCS.