Baripada: Activists of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Monday picketed at several places on the NH-18, blocking traffic for two hours, demanding immediate revival of the abandoned airstrip at Amarda Road in Rasgobindappur block of the district.

The agitators picketed at Baisinga, Palbani and Murgabhadi Square forcing hundreds of trucks and lorries stranded on both the sides of the busy highway.

Sub-divisional police officer, Sadar, Abhimanyu Nayak said no untoward incident occurred during the agitation and the traffic became normal at 12.30pm after the strike was called off.

JMM state general secretary Kalinga Kesari Jena said all their appeals to both the state and the central government have not yielded any result. "The airstrip at Amarda Road, which was being used during the Second World War, is in a dilapidated state and requires maintenance. A number of petitions were given to both the central and the state governments. But, nothing has worked out so far. This airstrip is not considered for renovation despite the fact that the Balasore MP R.K. Jena had raised the issue in Parliament several times," he said.

"The abandoned runway needs work to make it operational. Once the airstrip is ready, it will attract both domestic and overseas tourists," he said.