Bhubaneswar, May 6:Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu after the Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

In a social media post, Pradhan said, “The abode of Lord Shri Jagannath, (Jagannath Dham) in Puri has gained a unique identity worldwide in the field of religious tourism. The proposed greenfield airport in Puri will boost religious tourism and regional development, facilitating smoother travel for pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual and cultural experiences in the state when the facility becomes operational.”

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ର ପୁରୀରେ ନୂଆ ବିମାନ ବନ୍ଦର ନିର୍ମାଣକୁ ମଞ୍ଜୁର କରିଥିବାରୁ ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଏବଂ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ବେସାମରିକ ବିମାନ ଚଳାଚଳ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @RamMNK ଙ୍କୁ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ । ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ଧାମ ପୁରୀ ଧାର୍ମିକ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟଟନ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବିଶ୍ୱରେ ଏକ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ପରିଚୟ ଲାଭ କରିଛି । ପୁରୀ ଠାରେ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 6, 2025

Notably, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday granted in-principle approval for greenfield airports in Rajasthan's Kota and Puri in Odisha.

The proposed airport in Puri is set to enhance connectivity, religious tourism, and economic growth in Odisha, strengthening regional development and making travel to Puri more accessible for devotees and tourists from across the country and beyond.

Last year, the Centre had sought a detailed project report (DPR), including a development plan, cost and funding proposals, traffic projections, and timelines for the construction of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri, an official said.

The Centre had, in September 2023, granted "site clearance" to the Odisha government for setting up the airport. Around 1500 acre of land alongside the Puri-Brahmagiri road was identified for the proposed airport, sources said.

With an estimated Rs 5,631 crore investment, this project is expected to foster the development of religious, regional, and tourism sectors in this region, while also strengthening connectivity and the economy.

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