Early steps for a new airport in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Khordha June 19th. 2011, 9:54pmFollowing are excerpts from a report in Times of India.
The city has moved a step closer to its dream of an international airport with the state government identifying over 2,000 acres of land, around 40 km south of the capital, on National Highway 5 for it. "We have identified over 2,000 acre near Jankia and Malipada villages. The survey work is on," Khurda collector Hrusikesh Tripathy said.
Sources said land of around 20 villages, including Gayabandha, Malipada, Dalaka, Pota and Godipada, a large tract of cashew plantation belonging to the Orissa State Cashew Development Corporation, are being considered for the proposed international airport.
Official sources said the area was considered for three main reasons. One, the government has a big patch of land available in the area. So the proposed airport would require minimum land acquisition and displacement. Secondly, the NH will provide good connectivity to the airport from the city. Thirdly, it will be a strategically located for Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban complex as well as Puri and Berhampur.
…"The airport plan is futuristic keeping in mind the city’s need for 2030 and beyond. The location has to keep in mind the city’s needs then.
… Officials said the airport plan is still at a nascent stage. A committee under the revenue divisional commissioner (central range) has tentatively identified the land. After it finalises actual details of the land, the government would send the same for a feasibility study to the Airports Authority of India. If AAI gives it a go-ahead, the government would go for land acquisition. After that the government and AAI would involve private parties to develop the airport, they said. "The current airport almost divides the city into two. It is high time to consider shifting it to a new location," said BDA planning member Prashant Patnaik.
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June 21st, 2011 at 7:48 am
Hi,
Does it mean that proposed new airport (alongside NH, Jatani gate to Jatani railway station, opp gangapada chhak) as in vision 2030 is actually fake??? Lot of real estate players are betting big on above site to sell plots in these areas. Please clarify.
June 21st, 2011 at 1:23 pm
This news is buzzing since last 2-3 yrs and there is no progress on this at all. I am optimistic about this new international airport project but surely it will not takeoff in recent years. Probably govt. will speed up the land acquisition activities during last quarter of 2013 looking for next election vote bank as it happened to declaration of Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC)- Refer the details below.
Let us wait and watch the govt. interest and action plan…
http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/20/stories/2011062051950300.htm
Adjoining villages yet to be merged with Municipal Corporation
Staff Reporter
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It has been proposed to merge 23 villages of 14 panchayats with the corporation
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BERHAMPUR: Even after two-and-half years of formation, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to have the complete proposed area under it.
As a New Year gift from the State government to the inhabitants of the city, Berhampur was declared as the third municipal corporation of Orissa on January 1, 2009.
Area of the BMC was also proposed to be increased. As per the proposal, 23 villages of 14 panchayats on suburb of the city are to be included in the BMC.
Planned growth
It has been decided that merger of these villages with the BMC will lead to a planned growth of the major urban centre of south Orissa. It is an irony that till date no steps have been initiated to merge these villages with the BMC.
Recently, notification has been issued regarding reservation of seats for coming panchayat polls in 2012. These 14 panchayats which are proposed to be part of the BMC are also in the list, which indicates that till now no steps have been initiated for their merger with the BMC.
They still are part of different revenue blocks around the city.
When contacted, sarpanches of these panchayats, which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, say during the past two-and-half years they have not received any communiqué regarding the process.
Sarpanch of Lathi, Rankanidhi Panda, say till now they have not received any official information from State government to discuss the proposal of merger with the BMC in their panchayat body meetings.
Similar is the reply of sarpanch of Anantei, Pradeep Bisoi, and sarpanch of Nimakhandi-Lochapada, Sukanti Sahu.
Not new
Merger of adjoining villages for expansion of the city is not new to Berhampur.
In 1971, Gosaninuagaon village was merged with the city limits. In 1984 Ambapua village became its part.
It may be noted that elections for the BMC are due in 2013. By that time, the 23 villages which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, may not have become part of it as they are supposed to elect their own panchayat bodies in 2012.
Congress charge
Leaders of the Congress allege that this delay in merging the 23 villages under the BMC is politically-motivated. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member Bikram Panda says the ruling BJD fears that by merging these villages with the BMC, it may lose its vote bank as villagers, due to fear of more taxation under the BMC, may oppose the move.
But delay in expanding the limits of the BMC to its original proposed size is proving to be a major obstacle in the planned development of the city, says spokesperson of the Congress Ganjam district unit Pitabas Panda
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:48 pm
This looks like a 30 year plan! Only a few politicians know where it’s going to be set up never mind what journalists/newspapers say. Most of these stories are plants by politicians and real estate brokers. When IIT Bhubaneswar was going to be set up there were lots of rumors. Some said it’s going to be in between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, others said it will be closer to Puri. Ultimately it was decided to have the institute at Argul. Perhaps if you check land records in and around the area you might find some patterns in buying and selling there. It’s going to be the same case with the new airport. The ministers, the babus are the ones who are going to benefit big time.
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:41 am
Kerala is pushing for a Fourth International airport in the state at Kannur, a city with a population of just 65 thousand. Bihar has already proposed the renaming and upgradation of its 2nd international airport at Gaya. The 2nd domestice airport of Uttarakhand was thrown open recently. These small states are far ahead of Orissa in air connectivity, not to talk of states like Guj, Maha, AP and Ktaka. While international airport is still a dream for Orissa, even the state is not too keen on domestic airports. Had it been otherwise, the state could have atleast envisioned three PPP based airports at Berhampur, Jharsuguda and Rourkela, especially when there is no dearth of bigbang private investors in the state of Orissa. Recently, charted services have begun between Berhampur and various cities, but where is the push from the state? When there is no airport in the first place what to talk about air connectivity.
June 23rd, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Well, this airport should take its time in coming up, so that it can cater to the air connectivity of Orissa for at least 50years, starting around 5years from now. The present Biju Patnaik Airport is at its limits after about 15years of existence. This should not happen with the new airport. Let them take their time to come up with a great airport.
For the time being, the present airport is getting new terminals and also may be minor runway expansion to handle the extra load, of what is one of the busiest domestic airports in the country.
As for International Airport, its nothing but ego on our side to have an international airport. Find out how many of the present passengers using Biju Patnaik Airport connect to an international flight?? The number is just not high enough in my opinion.
At Abhishek, look at how many people from Kerala fly to the middle east. They definitely deserve a large number of international airports. As for Bihar having a 2nd International Airport, its also just soothing the Bihari ego. Having a couple of flights per week to Kathmandu does not make an international airport.
Though I agree, a new domestic airport in western Orissa, near Sambalpur, is definitely needed as soon as possible. This will catalyse the large industrial investments that are to occur in the region.