BJD leader and former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda has supported the demand for a modern domestic airport at Gopalpur.
Panda has urged the Union Government to develop the British-time Gopalpur airstrip by acquiring a portion of the land of the Gopalpur Army Missile centre and building an underpass for the Gopalpur-Brahmapur road.
Since Brahmapur occupies a premier position for its strategic location due to port, tourism potential and Defence establishments like, Panda has suggested establishment of a state-of-the-art airport as Gopalpur, Pune and Imphal aero-drums were built by the British Government almost at the same period between 1939 and 1942 to provide air protection to east, west and north coast. He further recalled that both Pune and Imphal airports have been developed as modern airports, which are serving the interest of the Air Force as well as civil and commercial airport at one go.
A Gopalpur airport would also boost the tourism potential of Gopalpur and Mahendragiri tourist destinations, he has stated.