BJD MP Sasmit Patra Urges Centre to Develop Ganjam’s Rangeilunda Airstrip into Full-Fledged Airport

New Delhi: Biju Janata Dal MP Dr. Sasmit Patra today urged the Centre to develop the Rangeilunda airstrip near Berhampur city in Odisha’s Ganjam district into a full-fledged airport.

For developing air connectivity near Berhampur and South Odisha, the BJD MP raised the issue of developing the airstrip into a full-fledged airport like the one has been done in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad).

He also demanded the inclusion of the Rangeilunda airport in the UDAN scheme for ease of passengers and air connectivity of Berhampur and south Odisha.

He urged the Civil Aviation Minister to take it up seriously.

Patra also raised the demand in Rajya Sabha to provide a Train Station at Baghamari, near Atri in Khurda district so that connectivity to Atri, the hot spring destination could be improved.

He also urged the Centre to consider developing the Atri hot spring into a good tourist destination.

For development of western Odisha, Patra urged the Centre to develop the Jharsuguda airport.

Though it is covered under UDAN scheme, it has been notified as an Air Cargo hub and for its upgradation is long awaited and no work has commenced in this regard, the BJD MP said.

Jharsuguda Airport should be added in the Krishi UDAN programme launched by the Prime Minister which would enable the farmers of the western Odisha especially they being tribal districts to access and sell in national and global markets, Patra insisted.

He also stated that Tele-density, Banking Density, National Highway and coverage of Railways in Odisha needs to be improved.

Further he stressed on the need for Special Focus status for states especially Odisha which faces natural disasters and therefore provision in this regard should be made.