Berhampur, June 14: Union minister of civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati today said the Centre would upgrade the Rangeilunda airstrip adjacent to Berhampur University to an airport if the state government gave a proposal to this effect.
Addressing a select gathering organised by the BJP to commemorate "Vikash Parv" in the town, the minister said: "The state government has not written a single letter to the Centre in two years for the upgrade of the Rangeilunda airstrip to an airport."
The civil aviation minister and Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir were in the city as part of the BJP's Vikash Parv celebrations, which mark two years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
As part of the samavesh, the Prime Minister had addressed a rally in Balasore on June 2 and highlighted his government's achievements. On June 6, the party had invited two Union ministers, including steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar, to Rourkela. After local BJP MLA Dillip Ray decided not to attend the party programme, Vikash Parv here was a low-key affair.
In Berhampur, the two ministers addressed a gathering of the city's intellectuals. Pusapati said the aviation industry had grown by 20 per cent in the country. "There are 31 non-functional airports in India and we plan to mobilise funds to make them functional," he said.
BJP Ganjam district unit, Forum for Ganjam and several local social organisations have demanded the upgrade of Rangeilunda airstrip to an airport and submitted a memorandum to Pusapati.
"The length of the present runway at the Rangeilunda airstrip, established in 1936, is 895 meters which is insufficient for take off and landing of commercial aircraft. The proposal for the upgrade of this airstrip was pushed to oblivion by the apathetic state government," said convenor the Forum for Ganjam Sudhir Rout.
Incidentally, there were no party flags or posters at the venue. The two ministers were accompanied by state unit vice-president Golak Mahapatra, general secretary Bhrugu Buxi Patra and others.
Pusapati criticised the Congress for indulging in a continuous blame game. "Blame game is counter-productive. It damages the image of India," he said.
