Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a major initiative to boost the state’s civil aviation and transport infrastructure under its newly formulated Building Management of Aviation Assets and Network (B-MAAN) initiative.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena revealed the details while presenting ₹3,651 crore demand expenditure for the department in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
The ambitious plan allocates ₹328 crore specifically for civil aviation development. Key projects include the establishment of a new greenfield airport at Paradeep and upgrades to existing airports at Jeypore, Dandabosh, Rangeilunda, Jamadarapali, and Tusara.
The state will also move forward with plans for a second international airport in Puri and further development of the Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre in Dhenkanal.
In a significant skill development initiative, the government will sponsor pilot training for 10 tribal women under an airlines cadet program, covering all training expenses.
Beyond aviation, the transport department’s budget includes ₹466 crore for modernizing the road transport authority system and ₹2,483 crore for expanding the mass transport network.
To enhance inter-state connectivity, the state will introduce 12 new super-premium AC sleeper buses operating on key routes including Bhubaneswar to Tirupati, Indore (via Ujjain), Shirdi (via Nagpur), Ayodhya (via Varanasi), Hyderabad (via Visakhapatnam), and Bhilai (via Raipur).
“This holistic development plan will significantly improve connectivity, boost tourism, and create new employment opportunities in the transport sector,” Minister Jena stated, emphasizing the transformative potential of the B-MAAN initiative for Odisha’s infrastructure landscape.
