Centre Clears Stage‑1 Forest Diversion for Puri Airport Project
The Centre has granted Stage‑1 forest clearance for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri, marking a crucial step toward its realisation.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the diversion of 27.887 hectares of forest land after reviewing Odisha’s proposal under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
This clearance follows the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s earlier in‑principle approval for the greenfield airport.
Once operational, the airport will allow pilgrims and tourists to fly directly into Puri, bypassing Bhubaneswar, thereby boosting connectivity to the holy city.
Officials believe the project will significantly enhance tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure, positioning Puri as a global spiritual destination while strengthening Odisha’s aviation network.
