Paving the way for a new era of air connectivity, the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Malkangiri airport in the southwestern part of the state on Tuesday.
Developed at the cost of Rs 70 crore, the airport is spread across an area of 233 acres. The airport is located in Katelguda in the Goudaguda panchayat area of Odisha and has a 1620-meter long and 30-meter wide runway, an official mentioned.
“Glad to inaugurate Malkangiri Airport, a dream come true for the people of the district which has now been placed on the aviation map of the country. The airport adds a new chapter in Malkangiri’s transformational journey to further accelerate the pace of trade, tourism, and commerce,” Naveen Patnaik said on X.
In the first phase, nine-seater aircraft are likely to operate from the airport, an official mentioned to the media. On January 7, the trial run of a nine-seater VT-100 double-engine flight was conducted successfully at Malkangiri airport.
Odisha’s 7th Airport
With the addition of Malkangiri airport, Odisha’s total operational airports have gone up to seven. The other six airports are located in Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Jeypore in Koraput, Utkela in Kalahandi, Rourkela in Sundergarh and Rangeilunda in Ganjam.
“The air connectivity to Malkangiri will usher in a new era of development, open up avenues of business and tourism, and further transform the lives of the people in the region,” Patnaik said.
Notably, the airport will connect the remote district with the outside world as the Odisha government plans to operate flights to Bhubaneswar and other cities.
“It will be useful for the citizens for various purposes. The economic activity including tourism will be enhanced. The security personnel will have confidence in quicker rescue missions. Hope this airport will open up many more opportunities for the development of the district,” Special Secretary to Chief Minister Odisha, Vineel Krishna said.
The authorities of the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar have provided necessary technical assistance for the operationalization of the Malkangiri airport.
Rs 4,000 crore integrated irrigation project launched
On the same occasion, CM Naveen Patnaik announced a Rs 4,000-crore integrated irrigation project at Govindpalli, which will help irrigate 92,815 acres of agricultural land and provide drinking water to 1.5 lakh people. The project work is expected to start in April and around 37,000 hectares of land will benefit from the project.