The dream of an international airport in Puri, officially named Shri Jagannath International Airport, is steadily moving closer to reality. The Odisha government is diligently working to secure the final green light from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, having achieved significant milestones in Puri airport approvals and land acquisition, even as it addresses crucial Puri airport environmental clearance considerations.

The Puri International Airport project has witnessed substantial progress on the approval front. The Ministry of Civil Aviation granted ‘in-principle’ approval on May 6, 2025, a pivotal step in the two-stage approval process under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008. This was followed by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommending environmental clearance on June 5, 2025. This critical environmental clearance is, however, contingent on the submission of Stage-I Forest Clearance and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Clearance by the project proponent, the Odisha government.

Despite these environmental considerations, other approvals are in place. The Ministry of Defence has issued a no-objection certificate for the project, indicating strategic clearance. The estimated cost of the Puri airport construction is ₹5,631 crore, planned for development in three phases. Phase 1 is designed to handle an estimated 4.6 million passengers annually, solidifying its role as a major aviation hub for eastern India. The Puri airport project timeline hinges on these remaining clearances.

🕒 Timeline Tracker: Sri Jagannath International Airport, Puri

Stage	Expected Timeframe	Status
Site & Defense Clearance	✅ Completed	✅ Done
Environmental Clearance	✅ June 2025	✅ Done
Final Forest Clearance (Stage II)	August–September 2025	🔄 In process
RFP (Request for Proposal) Issue	September 2025	⏳ Coming soon
Bid Submission Deadline	October 2025	⏳ Not yet started
Bid Evaluation	November 2025	⏳ Not yet started
Developer Selection (LoA)	December 2025	⏳ Planned
Concession Agreement Sign-off	Early 2026	⏳ Planned
Construction Start	Mid 2026	⏳ Scheduled
Phase 1 Operational Date (Estimate)	Late 2028 – Early 2029	⏳ Target

Land Acquisition: Significant Strides with a Focus on Rehabilitation

The proposed Puri International Airport will span 1,164 acres of land, primarily encompassing areas in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur villages, approximately 15 km from Puri town. This includes 68 acres classified as District Level Committee (DLC)/Revenue Forest land and 221.48 acres of privately owned land.

The Odisha government, as the project proponent, is diligently handling land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement. Public hearings were successfully conducted in March 2025 for land acquisition in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur. The government has put in place a comprehensive and compassionate Puri airport rehabilitation package for affected families, ensuring fair compensation and support for their transition. This package includes:

• ₹5 lakh per displaced family.
• Over ₹3.39 lakh for the construction of a new house.
• ₹1.13 lakh for transportation and shifting of household materials.
• ₹54,300 to support livelihood for a year.
• ₹25,000 to establish shops.

Permission to change the status of 25 acres of forest land has already been secured from the Union Forest Ministry. The socio-economic impact assessment, a crucial step in ensuring equitable development, has also been successfully completed, contributing to the overall Puri airport project status.

What’s Next? The Path to Construction

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is currently reviewing the newly submitted reports from the Odisha government, with particular attention to the comprehensive environmental plans requested by the FAC. Once the remaining clearances, especially the forest and CRZ approvals, are secured, the project is expected to swiftly transition into the Puri airport construction phase. The Odisha government is proactively coordinating with various departments to fast-track groundwork, including utilities shifting, land demarcation, and resettlement efforts.

The RFP (Request for Proposal) will be floated shortly to invite developers and operators.

Likely bidders could include major airport operators such as:

• GMR Group (operates Delhi, Hyderabad airports)
• Adani Airports (operates Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, etc.)
• L&T (construction contractor)
• Tata Projects or Shapoorji Pallonji (for EPC contracting)
• Airports Authority of India (AAI) could also participate or provide technical advisory

Who’s Currently Involved:

Entity	Role
Odisha Government (OWD + IDCO)	Project planning, land acquisition, coordination
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)	Central clearance and regulatory support
Wildlife Institute of India	Environmental planning and conservation support
Regional Empowered Committee (MoEFCC)	Forest and environmental clearance

As of August 1, 2025, no official developer or final bidder has been publicly announced for the Sri Jagannath International Airport in Puri, because the Request for Proposal (RFP) is still in the process of being issued by the Odisha Government.

The Shri Jagannath International Airport in Puri is more than just an infrastructure project; it’s a vision for enhanced connectivity, boosting Puri tourism development around the iconic Jagannath Temple, improving accessibility to Odisha’s vibrant coastal belt, and fostering significant Odisha economic growth and employment opportunities. It will also help decongest the Bhubaneswar airport, especially during major events like Rath Yatra. This Puri airport latest news 2025 highlights the state’s unwavering commitment to unlocking new opportunities in travel, tourism, and overall regional prosperity.