Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met with the Union Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, on Thursday, to discuss the issues of upgrading the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar to an international airport and the development of airports in Orissa.

A statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that, at the meeting, Patnaik was informed that the new domestic terminal building at Bhubaneswar airport was expected to be commissioned by December this year.

After the new building is commissioned, the existing terminal building will be renovated to make the airport suitable for international operations. The renovation includes enhancing ground lighting facilities, instrument landing system for operation of aircraft at night, besides, making available customs, immigration, health, animal and plant quarantine services. The modification work is expected to be done by April next year.

On the issue of development and operationalisation of Jharsuguda airport, Patnaik was informed that the Airports Authority of India had plans to develop the airport initially for ATR 72-500 type of aircraft operations.

Singh also suggested the possibility of developing the airport through the public-private partnership route.

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