Puri in Odisha is going to get its airport, confirmed the State Transport Minister in the Assembly on Monday. During the discussions on the Transport Department’s demand for grants, the minister shared that the proposed airport is coming up in Puri and 1,164 acres of land have been designated for its development. This project aims to significantly improve the region's infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism.
The Odisha government is set to acquire 221 acres of land in the Sipasarubali and Sandhapur areas under Brahmagiri tehsil for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri. In a notification earlier this month, Puri Sub-Collector Rajkishore Jena announced that public hearings for the land acquisition have been scheduled. The first hearing for Sipasarubali is on March 21 at the village field, and the second for Sandhapur is on March 28 at the Kalyan Mandap in the village.
Rehabilitation Package
The rehabilitation package for affected families includes several financial aids:
1. Displacement Allowance: Rs 5 lakh per displaced family.
2. Housing Assistance: Over Rs 3.39 lakh for constructing a new house.
3. Relocation Support: Rs 1.13 lakh for transportation and shifting of household materials.
4. Livelihood Assistance: Rs 54,300 to support livelihood for a year.
5. Business Support: Rs 25,000 to establish shops.
These measures align with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013, ensuring fair compensation and support for affected families.
Proposal and background
The idea of an international airport in Puri gained momentum in 2021 when then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik proposed the idea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and by October 2023, the Ministry of Civil Aviation granted site clearance for the project.
Notably, the airport is planned to be developed in three phases at an estimated cost of Rs 5,631 crore. Further, major infrastructure firms like the Fairfax Group, Adani Group, and GMR Group have shown interest in developing the Shree Jagannath International Airport, poised to enhance connectivity to Puri, benefiting tourism and the local economy.