The State Government would conduct a survey of the airstrips to ensure adequate security at the five unreserved airstrips selected under the Central Government’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme, informed DGP RP Sharma on Wednesday.
A State-level coordination and monitoring Committee meeting presided over by Chief Secretary AP Padhi took the decision to conduct the survey jointly by the Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCA) and Security and the Odisha police.
Speaking to reporters, DGP Sharma said the Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP), the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and the Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) would be deployed to beef up security at the airports. The details are being chalked out, said Sharma.
Meanwhile, the Jharsuguda airstrip is scheduled to be converted into a full-fledged airport and become operational under the UDAN scheme by October this year.
“By October the airstrip at Jharsuguda will be operational but the airstrips of Utkela and Jeypore will require some more time as they are still at the development phase. The total cost of development of Utkela and Jeypore airstrips is expected to be around Rs 50 crore,” informed, Padhi.