Argus News - Rangeilunda Airport Set for Takeoff: Completion by January

Berhampur, Sep 2: A high-level meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Southern RDC Sangram Keshari Mohapatra to review the progress of the Rangeilunda Airport project in Berhampur. Senior officials from various departments participated in the meeting held at the RDC office, focusing on making the airport fully operational by early next year.

Currently, construction and infrastructure work at the Rangeilunda Airport is progressing rapidly. Authorities have set a target to complete all major works by the end of December, with final touches expected to conclude by January.

Key tasks underway include underground cabling, boundary wall construction, water pump installation by WATCO, canal diversion, and selective eviction of structures. The airport falls under the 2B category and features a 1,090-meter runway, which is being upgraded to accommodate regional flights.

The Civil Aviation Department already holds 32.66 acres of land, while an additional 56 acres are required. Of this, 40 acres are government-owned, and 16 acres are private. Out of the 40 acres, 24 acres have been handed over to the local tehsildar and will be transferred to the Civil Aviation Department within a month. The remaining 16 acres have been acquired and will soon be leased to the Commerce and Transport Department.

To facilitate the airport’s development, over 6,000 trees have been cleared from the site. Once operational, Rangeilunda Airport is expected to significantly boost connectivity for Berhampur and surrounding districts, offering direct access to cities like Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam.

The RDC emphasized that the airport will be a game-changer for southern Odisha, enhancing regional development and economic growth.