The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to take up the development of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport (SJIA) in Puri, marking a major step forward for the long-pending greenfield airport project.
The proposed airport at Sipasarubali in Brahmagiri tehsil of Puri district is estimated to cost around ₹5,631 crore. The project will cover approximately 1,164.72 acres, including government, private and revenue forest land.
The development comes after the project secured final environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The final environmental clearance, granted on September 30, removes a major regulatory hurdle for the project.
AAI to Prepare DPR
According to officials, AAI will develop the airport with its own investment and prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) after completion of the remaining statutory formalities.
The DPR will determine the project’s updated investment requirement, taking into account phased development, technical specifications, passenger traffic projections, land and infrastructure requirements and prevailing construction costs.
The DPR will subsequently require approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) before the project can move towards execution. Discussions are also underway between AAI and the Odisha government regarding the revenue-sharing arrangement.
Phase-I Capacity
The first phase of the proposed airport has been designed to handle approximately 4.6 million passengers per annum.
The planned infrastructure includes a 3,700-metre-long and 45-metre-wide Code-E runway, equipped with Category-I Instrument Landing System (ILS), approach lighting and other visual aids.
The airport is also planned to accommodate a wide range of aircraft, from ATR-72 and Q400 turboprops to Airbus A320, A321 and A350 aircraft, as well as Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The proposed apron will measure approximately 1,500 metres by 275 metres, with parking capacity for 35 Code-C aircraft and up to 11 Code-E aircraft.
Terminal and Airport Infrastructure
The airport will feature a proposed 54,000-square-metre integrated terminal building, with a peak handling capacity of around 1,337 passengers.
Other planned facilities include:
- ATC-cum-technical building
- 7,000-square-metre cargo terminal
- Administrative and utility buildings
- Category-9 fire station
- Isolation bay
- Parking for 800 cars, 100 two-wheelers and eight buses
- MRO facilities
- Ground Support Equipment maintenance facilities
- Flight catering facilities
- Aviation fuel farm
The airport’s proposed navigation and surveillance infrastructure includes an ATC tower, meteorological systems, ILS, airport surveillance radar, surface movement radar and DVOR/DME systems.
Strategic Importance for Puri
The airport is being planned as Puri continues to develop as a major pilgrimage, heritage and tourism destination. The project is also expected to provide additional aviation capacity for the region as Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar approaches its design capacity.
The proposed airport site is approximately 50 km from Bhubaneswar by air and around 67 km by road, with connectivity planned through the Puri-Satapada-Bhubaneswar corridor and NH-316.
The project was first proposed in 2021. The Ministry of Civil Aviation subsequently granted site clearance, followed by in-principle approval in 2025.
With environmental and CRZ clearances now secured and AAI set to prepare the DPR, the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport has moved significantly closer to the next stage of development.
