ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Vajpayee inaugurates new airport terminal in Bhubaneswar

Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today underlined the urgency for building up infrastructural facilities to boost economic growth in Orissa.

Inaugurating the new airport terminal at Bhubaneshwar named after the late chief minister Biju Patnaik on his first death anniversary today, Vajpayee said, ''This is for the first time that any airport in the country is named after a pilot.''

Vajpayee recalled the challenges Patnaik faced while flying during the Second World War and later, while rescuing President Sukarno of Indonesia at the instance of then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The prime minister described him as a brave man and the builder of modern Orissa. For his bravery, Indonesia had conferred its highest civilian award, 'Bhumi Putra' on him. ''In a true sense he is a Bharat Ratna,'' Vajpayee said.

Recalling the late leader's farsighted vision in the aviation field, the prime minister said, ''This is what prompted Biju Patnaik to float Kalinga Airways.'' Vajpayee lauded the role played by this airline during the Chinese aggression in rescue and relief of the stranded Indian jawans in the inaccessible NEFA region (now Arunachal Pradesh).

Stressing the need for modern airports, the prime minister favoured direct links between metros and tourist centres to save time. "We want to introduce a certain work culture for which speed is essential and therefore the expansion of air services is a must,'' he said.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar, in his inaugural address, said the upgradation work at the airport has been taken up at a cost of Rs 350 million. In the first phase, the main runway was extended from 5850 feet to 7440 feet. In the second phase, the new terminal complex associated with new apron and link and taxiways have been completed, and was inaugurated today.

''Designed on the lines of the Sun Temple of Konark, this building can proudly be termed as the most modern gateway to eastern India,'' Kumar said. He also announced a daily connecting flight between Bhubaneshwar and the national capital which until now was only four times a week.

Governor R Reddy, in his address, said infrastructure has been recognised as an instrument for economic prosperity and this new terminal fulfils a long-felt need.

Chief Minister J B Patnaik demanded direct air links with all major metros of the country.

Biju Patnaik's son and Union Steel Minister Naveen Patnaik described his late father as a 'true eagle'.

He said, ''It is right that Prime Minister Vajpayee should be inaugurating the airport as he had shared a jail cell and Parliament with my father.''

After the inaugural function of the terminal building, Vajpayee flew to Puri for a darshan of Lord Jagannath.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report