By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 1, 2018: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved renaming Jharsuguda aerodrome in Odisha as ‘Veer Surendra Sai Airport’, an official release said.

Veer Surendra Sai is a well-known freedom fighter of Odisha.

“Renaming of the Jharsuguda airport in his name will fulfil the long-pending demand of the Odisha government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area,” the release said.

The renaming of the airport as ‘Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda’ was cleared by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it added.

Modi inaugurated the airport on September 22.

The airport has been developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in collaboration with the Odisha government at an estimated cost of Rs 2.1 billion, with Rs 750 million contribution from the state.

Spread across over 1,027.5 acres of land with a 2,390-metre long runway, the area of terminal building of the airport is 4,000 square metres.