Bhubaneswar, July 4: The Odisha government today asserted that the proposed Puri International Airport—one of its flagship infrastructure projects—continues to make significant progress, with several critical clearances and approvals in place.
This statement comes in response to recent media reports suggesting the project had stalled due to environmental concerns raised by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
Concerns from the FAC stem from potential ecological impacts, particularly threats to Olive Ridley turtles, endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, and the rich birdlife that migrates to Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. During its meeting on June 24, the committee recommended a precautionary approach and requested the Odisha government to seek expert input from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Despite these concerns, the state government emphasized that the project had achieved major milestones. The Ministry of Civil Aviation granted Site Clearance for the Greenfield airport on September 22, 2023. This was followed by in-principle approval from the central government on May 6, 2025, marking a major step forward for the airport's development.
The proposed airport will span 1,164 acres, with only 68 acres falling under District Level Committee (DLC)/Revenue Forest category, requiring minimal forest land diversion. The Commerce & Transport Department has already submitted the necessary compliance documents to the MoEF&CC. The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) under the Ministry's Integrated Regional Office in Bhubaneswar has since recommended the project for Stage-I Forest Clearance.
The forest diversion proposal is currently under review by the central government. In its June 24 meeting, the FAC called for a detailed Wildlife Conservation Plan, along with mitigation measures to protect the Olive Ridley turtles, dolphins, and migratory birds. The state government, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, is actively working on these requirements.
Officials clarified that these measures are standard for large-scale infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive areas. The Commerce & Transport Department has already initiated the preparation of the conservation and mitigation plan, which will be submitted to secure Stage-I clearance.
In a key regulatory breakthrough, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF&CC recommended Environmental Clearance for the airport during its June 26, 2025 meeting.
With major regulatory hurdles largely addressed, the Odisha government is now preparing to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP), signaling the transition to the project's execution phase.
Once operational, the Puri International Airport is expected to provide direct air connectivity to one of India’s most iconic spiritual and cultural destinations. It is poised to significantly boost tourism, generate employment, and drive regional economic development, while reflecting the state’s broader commitment to sustainable and responsible infrastructure growth.
