Veer Surendra Sai Airport Explained

Veer Surendra Sai Airport
Iata:JRG
Icao:VEJH
Type:Public
Owner:Airports Authority of India
City-Served:Jharsuguda
Location:Durlaga, Jharsuguda, Odisha, India
Coordinates:21.9133°N 84.0503°W
Pushpin Map:India Orissa#India
Pushpin Label:JRG
Pushpin Mapsize:280
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Odisha
R1-Number:06/24
R1-Length-F:7844
R1-Length-M:2391
R1-Surface:Concrete
Elevation-F:757
Stat-Year:April 2023 – March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:234,331 (0.8%)
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:2,971 (18.4%)
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:95 (72.3%)
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]
Website:Jharsuguda Airport

Veer Surendra Sai Airport, also known as Jharsuguda Airport, is a domestic airport serving Jharsuguda, Odisha, India. The airport is located north-east from the city centre.[4] The airport is located in Durlaga, approximately from Jharsuguda Junction Railway Station and around 63 kilometres from Sambalpur city. The airport is named after the revolutionary Veer Surendra Sai and it is the second commercial airport in the state of Odisha.[5] The airport caters to areas like districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Bargarh and Debagarh.

History

The researcher points out that in the last two years of the World War II, the allied forces had anticipated Japanese onslaught from the North-East and a string of airfields were made in the region. These included the airfields at Jharsuguda, Amarda Road, Charbatia, Hijli, Dudhkundi, Digri, Salua, Chakulia, Kalaikunda and Bishnupur.[6] After India gained Independence from the British, the airfield was abandoned.

In July 2013, the Government of Odisha sanctioned ₹50 crores to kick-start the 175-crore airport development project which was to be jointly executed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the state government.[7] On 30 July 2014, Odisha government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India for the mentioned.[8]

In August 2018, the airport received a 4C category licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), making Jharsuguda the second commercial airport in Odisha after Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.[9] The airport is eligible to land A-320 type Airbus aircraft.[10]

On 22 September 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport, in the presence of Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu and former Bargarh Lok Sabha Member Prabhas Singh.[11]

Facilities

Terminal

Inaugurated in September 2018, the passenger terminal is built over an area of 5500sqm with modular design for handling 150 arriving and 150 departing passengers at a time with a scope for future expansion. The runway has capacity of land Airbus A321 and Boeing 767 aircraft.[12]

The airport was renamed after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai by the cabinet on 1 November 2018.[13] [14] [15] The interiors of the terminal building depict local handcraft such as world famous Sambalpuri sari, Sambalpuri dance, artwork and tourist destinations of Odisha.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Information about Jharsuguda Airport – World airport database.
  5. Web site: SpiceJet started flights to Jharsuguda from Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata On March 31,2019. 27 February 2019. Times of India. 27 February 2019.
  6. Web site: World war airstrip to see action again. 7 July 2013. The Asian Age. 4 February 2024.
  7. News: Government sanctions Rs 50 crore for Jharsuguda . https://web.archive.org/web/20130728170423/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-23/bhubaneswar/40748118_1_jeypore-airstrip-jharsuguda-airport-biju-patnaik-airport . dead . 28 July 2013 . . 22 July 2013 . 27 July 2013.
  8. News: Odisha signs MoU with AAI for second airport at Jharsuguda . . 30 July 2014. 11 September 2018.
  9. News: J'suguda Airport fit for 320 Airbus flight. . 2 August 2018. 11 September 2018.
  10. Web site: July 9, 2018 . Jharsuguda Airport to Usher in Economic Development . The Indian Express . August 30, 2022.
  11. News: PM Modi inaugurates new airport in Odisha's Jharsuguda.
  12. Web site: 2013-07-28 . Government sanctions Rs 50 crore for Jharsuguda - Times Of India . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130728170423/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-23/bhubaneswar/40748118_1_jeypore-airstrip-jharsuguda-airport-biju-patnaik-airport . 28 July 2013 . 2023-02-10.
  13. News: Cabinet clears renaming Jharsuguda aerodrome as Veer Surendra Sai airport.
  14. News: Jharsuguda airport renamed after Odisha freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.
  15. News: J'suguda airport to have night landing facility.
  16. News: Jharsuguda airport inauguration by PM Modi: Sneak-peek into Odisha's second airport – a big boost!.