Bhubaneswar: The long-awaited dream of an international airport in Puri has moved a significant step closer to reality as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, has accorded in-principle (Stage-1) forest clearance for the construction of Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri.
The clearance was granted after careful examination of the proposal submitted by the Government of Odisha (Proposal No. FP/OR/Airport/426096/2023). The Advisory Committee constituted under Section 3 of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, reviewed the project on 27.02.2026. Following its recommendations and approval by the competent authority, the Central Government has granted Stage-1 approval.
“After careful consideration of the proposal of the Government of Odisha and on the basis of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and approval of the same by the competent authority of MoEFCC, New Delhi, the Central Government hereby accords “In principle/Stage-1 approval under Section 2 (1) (il) of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 for diversion of 27.887 ha. of DLC forest land for construction of Shree Jagannath International Airport under Puri Forest Division in Puri District”, read the letter issued by the Ministry of MoEFCC.
Once operational, the airport is expected to greatly improve connectivity to Puri, allowing pilgrims and tourists from across the country and abroad to land directly in the holy city instead of Bhubaneswar.
This development comes after the Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier granted in-principle approval for the greenfield airport project.
