By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 24, 2016 : A three-member central team on Friday visited Rangeilunda and Jeypore airstrips in Odisha to explore the possibility of expansion of the existing airstrips.

In the first phase, the team surveyed the canal land and the land near Army College for the expansion of Rangeilunda airstrip located near Berhampur.

“We have a plan to extend this airstrip. The plan of this project has also been approved by the expenditure committee. Today, we are here to see how soon we can initiate the land acquisition that is needed for this extension,” said Special Secretary of GA Department Ashok Kumar Meena.

From 17 international passengers in the year 2014-15 the traffic has grown to 16173 in the year 2015-16.Domestic passengers have increased from 1493342 in 2014-15 to 1878559 in 2015-16, a rise of 25%. Thus, passenger traffic has increased by 26.9% in one year taking both domestic and international passengers. Cargo traffic has also increased by 17.7% in last one year.

“The government has decided to extend the length of four airstrips to 5000 ft in the first phase. Berhampur is one of them. Jeypore, Padampur and Balasore will follow,” said SP Mohapatra, a senior official of Central Government who was part of the visiting team.

Recently the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that Central Government will consider operationalizing Rangeilunda airstrip, if Odisha government submits a proposal.

Later in the day, the team also visited the Jeypore airstrip and surveyed the surroundings for the proposed extension there.