Once a Maoist hotbed, Odisha’s Malkangiri now gets air connectivity

The airport is likely to first see the operation of nine-seater aircraft, before it expands into handling bigger planes in subsequent phases.

With the new airport coming up, the journey from the state capital, Bhubaneswar, to Malkangiri can be completed in just two hours. Earlier, it would take 14-16 hours by road.

“It will be a major boost for the movement of forces to Malkangiri, where the BSF has a significant presence in view of the Maoist presence. Also, the airport will be a great catalyst for the Mukhyamantri Vayu Swasthya Seva (Air Health Services) to provide quality health service to people in the remotest part of the state,” the official said.

Malkangiri Airport is spread over an area of 233 acres and has a runway that is 1,620 metres long and 30 metres wide. A total of Rs 70 crore has been spent to develop the airport.

Apart from the one in Malkangiri, Odisha has four airports, which are at Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Jeypore. Airports are also being developed at Utkela in Kalahandi district and Rangeilunda in Ganjam.

The major infrastructure push in tribal-dominated Malkangiri before the airport was Gurupriya Bridge, which was inaugurated in 2018 and established connectivity to previously cut-off areas. Construction of the 910-metre bridge was initiated in 1980-81, but remained stuck for years due to Maoists resistance.

The Odisha government expedited the project following the deployment of BSF at the construction site. The inauguration of the bridge dealt a massive blow to the Maoists, as it helped security personnel enter previously cut-off areas.