Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited trial run at Malkangiri Airport in Odisha will be conducted on July 22, marking a significant step towards making the airport operational, aviation authorities said on Friday.
According to the official schedule, a technical team comprising Assistant Director (Security) Manoj Kumar Das and Assistant Director Niraj Kumar Nayak (Aero Safeguard) will leave Bhubaneswar by road on July 19 and reach Malkangiri on July 20.
Upon arrival, the team will inspect the airport’s preparedness and hold meetings with district officials, including the District Collector, Superintendent of Police (SP), Fire Officer-in-Charge, Chief Medical Officer, and Superintending Engineer (Roads & Buildings) to review operational and security arrangements.
On July 21, the officials will oversee the final preparations for the airport, brief security, fire and medical personnel deployed for the exercise, and conduct a full-scale rehearsal ahead of the trial run.
The trial run is scheduled for July 22, during which all operational, safety and emergency response systems will be tested to assess the airport’s readiness for flight operations.
As per the itinerary, Assistant Director Manoj Kumar Das will return to Bhubaneswar on July 23, while Niraj Kumar Nayak will remain in Malkangiri until July 30 to oversee post-trial activities and provide technical support.
The airport was inaugurated on January 9, 2024, by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Developed on 233 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore, the airport features a 1,602-metre-long and 30-metre-wide runway, built at a cost of around Rs 29 crore. The airport infrastructure has been developed on 106 acres and is designed to accommodate small aircraft, similar to operations at Jeypore airport.
The airport is expected to significantly improve air connectivity for the remote tribal district of Malkangiri, enhance access to government services, promote tourism and investment, and fulfil the long-standing demand of local residents by placing the district on India’s aviation map.