Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to lay foundation stone for the proposed Rangeilinda Airstrip expansion project during his upcoming Ganjam visit on November 19.
Sources said the State Government has already decided to approve the project in view of the Union Government’s recent decision to sanction funds for expansion of small airports and airstrips across the country.
Earlier, many detailed project reports (DPRs) had been sent the State Government, but in vain. Recently, the Rangeilunda Airstrip authorities sent a special DPR of Rs 43 crore to the General Administration Department for approval, sources added.
As per the DPR, the existing 890-metre runway would be expanded to 1,874 metre and its width would be expanded from 15 metre to 30 metre. For expansion of runway, 32 acres of land would be acquired.
Of Rs 43 crore, Rs 17 crore would be spent for land acquisition and Rs 5.7 crore to be spent for diversion of Brahmapur-Gopalpur road.