Bhubaneswar, July 27 (UDN): The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the state’s aviation sector, with plans to expand the number of airports to 10 by the 2028-29 financial year. The proposed Odisha Civil Aviation Policy 2026 focuses on improving air connectivity, tourism infrastructure, emergency services, and logistics facilities across the state.
As part of the plan, five new airports will be developed in addition to the existing five airports in Odisha. The government also aims to establish four heliports and two Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to support aviation growth.
Under the proposed hub-and-spoke model, the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will function as the main aviation hub, while airports in Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Jeypore, Puri, and Paradip will be developed as secondary hubs.
The policy also proposes upgrading airstrips and developing spoke airports at locations such as Utkela, Jamadarpali, Rangeilunda, and Dandbose. Runway expansion projects are planned at several airfields across the state to improve operational capacity.
The government has identified multiple locations for heliport development, including tourist destinations, district headquarters, and major healthcare centres. The initiative aims to provide better connectivity for tourism, medical emergencies, disaster management, and remote areas.
To strengthen aircraft maintenance capabilities, MRO facilities are proposed at key locations, including Bhubaneswar, Paradip, Jharsuguda, and Rasgovindpur. The state also plans to develop Bhubaneswar, Paradip, Jharsuguda, and Dhamra as aviation-based multimodal logistics hubs.
The policy targets increasing annual air passenger traffic from 50 lakh in 2025-26 to 1 crore by 2028-29, while boosting cargo handling capacity and creating a stronger aviation ecosystem in Odisha.