Bhubaneswar Airport To Scrap Old ATC Tower
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Bhubaneswar Airport To Scrap Old ATC Tower

The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar has formally sought approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to decommission its decades-old Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower.

The old 23.46-metre structure has remained vacant since operations shifted in early 2023 to the new 11-storey, 44.2-metre tower, equipped with advanced automation systems under the Make in India initiative. Initially used as a backup, all navigation and communication equipment has now been fully relocated. DGCA inspectors will examine the site before approving decommissioning, while authorities are considering repurposing the anti-hijacking building as a backup control centre.

The modern facility has enhanced efficiency in handling rising air traffic, particularly during night and international operations, and acts as a diversion point in adverse weather. However, concerns were raised in late 2024 over the lack of a fire safety certificate for the new tower, after officials denied clearance citing National Building Code violations, including the absence of dual escape routes. Authorities have not confirmed whether certification has since been secured.

Meanwhile, expansion plans at BPIA are moving ahead with a new integrated Terminal 3 (T3) finalised at an estimated cost of Rs 10 billion. The 65,000-square-metre terminal will replace earlier split-terminal proposals and is designed to handle up to 8.6 million passengers annually. The project also includes six new aerobridges and expanded apron space to accommodate increasing traffic while improving passenger experience.


The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar has formally sought approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to decommission its decades-old Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower.The old 23.46-metre structure has remained vacant since operations shifted in early 2023 to the new 11-storey, 44.2-metre tower, equipped with advanced automation systems under the Make in India initiative. Initially used as a backup, all navigation and communication equipment has now been fully relocated. DGCA inspectors will examine the site before approving decommissioning, while authorities are considering repurposing the anti-hijacking building as a backup control centre.The modern facility has enhanced efficiency in handling rising air traffic, particularly during night and international operations, and acts as a diversion point in adverse weather. However, concerns were raised in late 2024 over the lack of a fire safety certificate for the new tower, after officials denied clearance citing National Building Code violations, including the absence of dual escape routes. Authorities have not confirmed whether certification has since been secured.Meanwhile, expansion plans at BPIA are moving ahead with a new integrated Terminal 3 (T3) finalised at an estimated cost of Rs 10 billion. The 65,000-square-metre terminal will replace earlier split-terminal proposals and is designed to handle up to 8.6 million passengers annually. The project also includes six new aerobridges and expanded apron space to accommodate increasing traffic while improving passenger experience. 

Next Story
Real Estate

Q3 2025: Housing Sales Volume Declines 9% Annually

India’s residential real estate market showed mixed trends in Q3 2025. Despite global economic uncertainties and affordability challenges, housing demand remained resilient, supported by rising incomes, urbanisation, and aspirational homeownership.According to ANAROCK Research, housing sales across the top 7 cities stood at approx. 97,080 units in Q3 2025, a 9 per cent decline from 1,07,060 units in Q3 2024. However, the total sales value grew 14 per cent annually – from approx. Rs 1.33 trillion in Q3 2024 to approx. Rs 1.52 trillion in Q3 2025 – largely driven by higher traction in the ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

LANXESS India Honoured with Three Recognitions by Indian Chemical Council

LANXESS India has been honoured with three prestigious awards from the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), reaffirming its commitment to safety, security, and sustainability. The recognitions include the ICC–Vinati Organics Award for Excellence in Management of Health & Safety for its Jhagadia site, along with two ICC–Epsilon Carbon Certificates of Merit under Responsible Care for being the best compliant company in the categories of Security Code and Product Safety & Stewardship Code.The awards were presented by Shri Deepankar Aron IRS, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petr..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Enlight Metals Expands into Coal Aggregation

Enlight Metals, one of India’s fastest-growing metal aggregators, has announced its entry into the coal sector with the launch of a dedicated coal aggregation division. This strategic move extends the company’s proven aggregation model from metals to coal, with a focus on reliability, efficiency, and scale in meeting the needs of India’s industrial and energy sectors.The new division will primarily serve two high-demand segments: coking coal for the steel industry and thermal coal for industrial and power producers. Both segments face persistent supply challenges, which Enlight Metals ai..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?