New Delhi: An agreement has been signed between the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to operationalise the Rourkela airport, civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. To make this airport operational, Scindia added that SAIL and AAI have also signed an agreement on Monday for establishment of CNS facilities. The minister made the announcement in response to a starred question by Biju Janata Dal MP from Odisha Mamata Mohanta. He said commercial flights can operate at the airport as soon as the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) completes its inspection and gives its nod. Rourkela airport was among the five airports in Odisha identified for upgradation for the operation of flights under the regional connectivity scheme, Udan.
Scindia said that the aviation ministry has discussed the airstrip with the defence ministry and the land has been allocated to the state government. The minister said the state government needs to pay Rs 26 crore to the defence ministry and it will be the state's duty to develop the airport. The government has focused on the upgradation of the Rourkela airport in view of the FIH Men's World Cup scheduled to be held in Odisha in January 2023. Mohanta said matches were scheduled to be played at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.
The minister said that AAI has spent about Rs 28 crore on the upgradation of the Rourkela airport which is a property of SAIL. "I am happy to share that the airport work is complete and boundary walls have been built around the airport for Rs 2 crore. Resurfacing of the runway has also been accomplished. The construction of the perimeter wall will be done by 15 December and Rs 6 crore has been allocated for the extension of the terminal building which will be completed by December 2023," he added.
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