The proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri, Odisha, has encountered a critical delay due to environmental and procedural hurdles, particularly concerning forest and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances.
Despite securing Environmental Clearance (EC) recommendation, the Rs 5,631-crore greenfield project—spread over 471.34 hectares near Sipasarubali—has not yet received forest clearance, as the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) deferred approval in a June 24 meeting.
The Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri faces delays due to ecological concerns, with the FAC deferring approval over threats to wildlife and habitats. Odisha is addressing these issues with comprehensive studies and mitigation plans.
Key concerns flagged by the FAC include the felling of over 13,000 coastal trees, such as casuarina and acacia, which serve as natural barriers against cyclones. The committee also raised red flags over the airport’s proximity to ecologically sensitive areas including nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles, Irrawaddy dolphin habitats, and key migratory bird routes near Chilika Lake.
To address these concerns, the Odisha government has commissioned comprehensive ecological studies through the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). These assessments will evaluate environmental impact, bird flight risks to aviation, and biodiversity vulnerabilities. Alongside, the state has submitted a wildlife conservation and disaster management plan, including proposals for cyclone shelters, afforestation, and biodiversity monitoring.
Authorities have clarified that only 27.88 hectares of forest land will be used for core infrastructure and affirmed corrective actions regarding past construction violations, such as a 1,400-metre boundary wall built on forest land. Compliance with the Forest Conservation Act and CRZ norms is underway.
Given the site’s overlap with CRZ zones and a no-development area, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has instructed the state to obtain specific input from the Ministry’s CRZ division. Only after securing Stage-I forest clearance and addressing CRZ concerns can the EC be formalised.
State officials remain hopeful that with the forest and CRZ hurdles addressed, the project can progress swiftly to tendering, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) expected soon to initiate construction.
