There are 31 non-functional airports in the country and efforts are being made to make them perform, said Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
Speaking to newsmen during his visit to Berhampur, Mr Raju said as aviation is a fastest growing sector within the country, there is need to make these airports functional. So, a viability gap funding scheme has been mooted for these airports. Centre is providing 80 per cent and the share of States’ is 20 per cent . According to him, the civil aviation sector of the country is growing at a rate of 20 per cent, which is quite high in comparison to other sectors.
Regarding Odisha, he said there were two proposals from the State government that included development of an airport at Jharsuguda and upgradation of Bhubaneswar airport to an international airport. “The Jharsuguda project is at an advanced stage. Hopping flights to international destinations have started from Bhubaneswar and direct international flights from here may be started in future taking into account the rate of international flight ticket bookings from Bhubaneswar,” he said.
He reiterated that no other proposal had reached from the Odisha government to his Ministry including that of development of Rangeilunda air strip near Berhampur to a functional airport.
