The Odisha government has drawn up a draft civil aviation policy to transform the state’s air connectivity from a transport utility into a growth engine for industry and tourism. The document envisages doubling the number of operational airports from five to 10 by 2028-29 and sets a broader target to establish five additional airports and two international gateways by 2030. Two new greenfield international airports have been planned at Puri and Paradip to serve tourism and cargo and industrial requirements respectively.

The draft sets capacity targets to handle an estimated 10 million (mn) passengers and one point five million (mn) tonnes (t) of cargo annually. The policy defines million (mn) and tonne (t) on first mention and will use the respective abbreviations thereafter. Officials see the projected throughput as central to unlocking inbound tourism and improving freight linkages for industrial clusters.

At present the state operates one international airport at Bhubaneswar and four domestic airports at Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Jeypore and Utkela in Kalahandi. The proposal envisages making five more domestic airports fully operational over the next three years. Enhancements to ground logistics and air connectivity form a core component of the plan.

The policy seeks to weave airport expansion into a wider infrastructure strategy that supports cargo corridors and industrial growth while improving passenger access to key destinations. It promotes development of airport-linked logistics networks to reduce transit times and attract investment. The draft indicates an intent to pursue a mix of public investment and partnerships to deliver the proposed projects.

Stakeholder consultations and detailed feasibility studies will follow publication of the draft policy. The roadmap aims to reposition air transport as a catalyst for regional economic development.