The State Government on Friday decided to develop four existing airstrips in the State and make them operational from next year. This was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here.
The meeting decided that runways of the airstrips in Baripada in Mayurbhanj, Rangeilunda in Ganjam, Padmapur in Bargarh and Jeypore in Koraput would be expanded. Besides, additional infrastructure works would also be taken up which would be completed within a stipulated time.
The officials informed that the expansion work of Rourkela, Jharsuguda, lanjigarh and Angul airstrips are going on which would be completed within a couple of months. Runways of these airstrips are being expanded to 5,000 feet.