Odisha Transport Minister BB Jena, on Monday said that the state government has not received any formal communication from the Centre regarding possible leasing out of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here to a private entity for development and management. The minister’s statement came after the opposition BJD alleged that the BJP government has made an attempt to privatise the BPIA by leasing it out to a private entity. Not denying the possibility of such a move, the minister said, “The centre has plans concerning the development and management of airports, but no proposal specifically related to leasing Bhubaneswar airport has reached the Odisha government so far.” Jena assured the people of Odisha that the BJP government would not take any step that would affect the state’s interest.
He said that the BPIA is performing well and ahead of many airports in the country. BJD leader Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra came down heavily on the BJP government and alleged that the BJP government has approved a proposal to club BPIA with Hubballi Airport in Karnataka and hand them over to a private entity under the PPP mode. “It is highly condemnable that this important airport of Odisha, named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik, is being handed over to a private entity,” Mishra said, adding that it is understood that government institutions not generating profits are considered for leasing to private entities. “However, BPIA is one of the profitable airports in India,” he pointed out. The BPIA is estimated to be worth between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 7,000 crore.
Around 50 lakh people travel through this airport every year. In 2022-23, the Central government earned a profit of Rs 238 crore from this airport and it is expected to generate profits of more than Rs 500 crore, Mishra said. The BJD leader said that former CM Naveen Patnaik has made significant contributions towards the development and expansion of the airport.
However, the people of Odisha will not accept the decision to hand over the airport to a private entity on a 50-year lease, the BJD leader said, threatening that the party would launch a strong agitation if the BPIA is handed over to a private party on a lease basis.
