Biju Patnaik Airport

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Biju Patnaik Airport Bhubaneswar Airport
IATA: BBI - ICAO: VEBS
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Airports Authority of India
Serves		Bhubaneswar
Elevation AMSL		138 ft (42 m)
Coordinates		20°14′40″N, 85°49′04″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
05/23	4,524	1,379	Asphalt
14/32	7,359	2,243	Asphalt

Biju Patnaik Airport (IATA: BBI, ICAO: VEBS), also known as Bhubaneswar Airport, is situated in the city of Bhubaneswar. It is currently the only major airport in Orissa, India. It is named after the former Chief Minister of Orissa Biju Patnaik, who was also a famed aviator and freedom fighter.

The runway length is 5850 ft and the runway elevation is 146 ft. The airports coordinates are 85° 49' 0" E, 20° 14' 0" N.

1 Planned International Airport
2 Airlines and destinations
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Planned International Airport

In keeping with the rapid pace of industrialization taking place in Orissa, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has recently announced a plan for the construction of a new integrated international airport complex at Bhubaneswar by 2010. AAI will invest over US $50 million (Rs. 2.5 billion) for this project that would make Biju Patnaik Airport a major airport in eastern India, and a viable alternative to the one at Kolkata.

The state government of Orissa has provided 70 acres for the expansion of the runway to 10,500 feet, to handle Boeing 747 aircraft. The runway extension is expected to be commissioned in September 2006. The new terminal building will follow a modular design, with glass glazing, aerobridges with glass walls, and inline x-ray baggage. The expansion also includes building a parallel taxi track for the airport and enhancing cargo handling facilities that could handle upto 30 aircraft per hour. A commercial complex for multiplex, shopping complex, hotel and other commercial establishments under the public private partnership (PPP) near the airport, to support 500 passengers at a time.

London based Global Technical Advisory (GTA) has been asked to prepare a master plan for upgradation of Bhubaneswar airport as the AAI desires to make this the best in eastern India.

AAI will also set up a second major airport in the western region of Orissa, at Jharsuguda.