Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Monday said the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar would soon be upgraded to an international one.
Patel told FE that the upgradation project would be included in the airport development programme of the Centre. He said the proposal would be placed before the Cabinet. Proposals were also there to introduce international flights from Bhubaneswar, he added.
The Union civil aviation minister also said the Jharsuguda airstrip would be developed into a full-fledged airport.
Patel was here to attend the relunching of the National Congress Party (NCP) in Orissa. Two major political parties of Orissa–the state unit of Janata Dal (Secular) and the regional outfit, Orissa Gana Parisad– merged with the NCP in Orissa on Monday.