Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda – A Brief History

ONI Bureau:  Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the much-awaited Jharsuguda Airport – Odisha’s second Airport and renamed it as Veer Surendra Sai Airport as requested by CM Naveen Patnaik and a resolution passed by Odisha Assembly, all parties and successive governments are to be hailed for this dream that became a reality today.

The Jharsuguda Airport was just an Airstrip which was being used during the World War II by British Government and Allied Forces to counter Indian Freedom Fighters led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, but was abandoned later.

The initiative began during the Congress-led UPA regime in 2008 when the Airport Authority of India (AAI) conducted a feasibility study. The UPA Government later gave its nod to revive the Airport. Air Odisha launched non-scheduled commercial flights between Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Bhubaneswar on November 2, 2012.

The Odisha Government later sanctioned Rs 50 crore in July 2013 to kick-start the Rs 175 crore airport development project. Land acquisition process began too, as the AAI needed and additional 275.75 acres to convert the airstrip into a full-fledged airport, including a 5,500 sq.m. terminal building and ATC tower.

The Odisha Government signed a MoU with AAI on July 30, 2014 for the development of Airport, which paved the way for new construction. In February 2015, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) gave its nod for the expansion of the Airport to handle Airbus A320 Aircraft.

The DGCA granted license to Jharsuguda Airport in May 2018, making it ready for inauguration.

While the Congress-led UPA Government deserves credit for conceptualizing the project, the BJP-led NDA Government deserves kudos to expedite the process and taking it up at a much faster space. The Odisha Government has been very helpful from the very beginning to make it happen. Jharsuguda Airport is yet another example of better Centre-State coordination, which is essential for growth and development.