Puri Sri Jagannath International Airport tender process commences 

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has commenced the tender process for the development of the Puri Sri Jagannath International Airport under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with an estimated cost of Rs 2,203 crore. The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), representing the Commerce and Transport department of the Odisha government, has issued invitations for tenders to attract international bids for this significant project in the pilgrimage town. Bidding for the airport project will begin online on February 21, with technical evaluations scheduled for April 21. The construction of the airport is expected to be completed within a period of 1,095 days.

The proposed Puri Sri Jagannath International Airport will be an international greenfield airport, adhering to established standards for such projects. Similar to other airports, the project will be developed and managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

In November 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted approval for the diversion of forest land, facilitating the ambitious Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri. This approval followed site clearance granted in October of the same year. The clearance process began a year earlier when the Odisha government submitted all necessary documents to the ministry in accordance with the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy of 2008.

The international airport is planned to be constructed on 1,164 acres of land, including 68 acres of forest area and 221.48 acres of privately-owned land in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur under Brahmagiri tehsil. While the estimated cost of the airport project is Rs 5,631 crore, the MoEFCC has approved the diversion of 68.81 acres of forest land. The remaining land comprises 221.89 acres of private land and state government-owned land in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur under Brahmagiri tehsil.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik previously urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an international airport in Puri to promote Jagannath culture. The necessity for such an airport was emphasized by land constraints hindering the expansion of the Bhubaneswar airport, which experienced increasing footfall from tourists and pilgrims visiting Puri, situated approximately 65 km away from the Odisha capital.