Airport sought in Silk City

The Centre should sanction a full-fledged airport in the city, which is the centre of education, culture and business in southern Orissa, Aska MP Ladu Kishore Swain has demanded. The BJD MP has written a letter to the Union civil aviation minister Gajapati Raju in this connection. He has also sent a copy of the letter to the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.Justifying his demand, Swain said there are several institutions providing higher education under aegis of Berhampur University. That apart, Gopalpur port, military cantonment and an institute like Indian Rare Earths Ltd are situated around the city. An industrial park and a special economic zone of Tata are also being set up in the city. Due to the presence of these premier institutions and offices, academicians, researchers and engineers visit the city frequently, he said in the letter. Critical patients from several areas of the state travel to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam through the city for treatment. That apart, National Highway Nos – 5 and 59 passes through the city, he addeed. In the recent rail budget, funds have been sanctioned for a rail wagon factory in Shitalapalli. Keeping in view all of these, the absence of an airport poses problem towards infrastructure development in the city. A small airstrip at Rangeilunda failed to cater to the needs, the MP said. In his letter, Swain further added that the Berhampur Development Authority in its comprehensive development plan (CDP) has identified a piece of land at Laxmipur for setting up a new airport. He urged the Centre to take immediate steps to start the construction work of the airport. Swain also wrote a letter to railway minister Suresh Prabhu to start construction of the Gopalpur-Rayagada railway track as survey has been completed for the purpose. He also sent a copy of the letter to the Chief Minister. - See more at: http://www.orissapost.com/airport-sought-in-silk-city/#sthash.mKRxSkge.dpuf