Bhubaneswar, 04 April (H.S.): The long-pending Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri has received a significant boost, with the Central Government granting Stage-I (in-principle) forest clearance for diversion of forest land, clearing a major procedural hurdle for its development.
The approval, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), comes after the proposal submitted by the Odisha Government was reviewed by the Advisory Committee constituted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Under the clearance, the Central Government has accorded in-principle approval for the diversion of 27.887 hectares of DLC forest land under the Puri Forest Division for construction of the international airport in Puri district. The clearance is subject to fulfillment of certain conditions before final Stage-II approval is granted.
This milestone moves the project closer to execution, following years of planning and deliberation. Once operational, the airport is expected to enhance connectivity to Puri, facilitate smoother travel for pilgrims and tourists, and contribute significantly to regional economic development and tourism growth.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda