The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has issued a tender for the development, operation, and maintenance of the first phase of Sri Jagannath International Airport at Sipasarubali in Puri. The airport, estimated to cost Rs 2,203 crore, will be developed in Public Private Partnership mode and is expected to be completed within three years to handle 4.6 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).
This announcement comes as a significant step towards fulfilling the long-awaited dream of having an international airport in Puri. The filing of the online tender process will begin from February 21, and the technical bids will be opened on April 21.
The airport will be built on a land plot measuring around 1,164 acres and will be set up in accordance with the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had previously granted site clearance approval for the project in 2023.
The decision to develop Sri Jagannath International Airport comes after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021 to establish an international airport in the holy city, expecting an increase in tourist footfall.
The development of an international airport in Puri is expected to greatly benefit the tourism industry in the region, potentially attracting more visitors to the historic and religious sites in and around the city. The development of the airport is thus a significant step towards boosting tourism and overall economic development in the region.
