Berhampur, Sept. 15: The proposal to expand the state-owned airstrip at Rangeilunda adjoining Berhampur University into a full-fledged airport has been shelved.

Under the new comprehensive development plan, by the Berhampur Development Authority, Lakshmipur at Sitalapalli will be made the new site for the proposed airport.

“We have earmarked about 80 acres of revenue land in the Lakshmipur mouza under Chatrapur block for an airport, and it is planned under the new comprehensive development plan,” said development authority chairman Subash Maharana.

The British built Rangeilunda airstrip during the Second World War. Now, the defence establishments, state government, private companies and the VIPs are using the airstrip to reach Berhampur and other places in south Odisha.

In August last year, a four-member technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), led by joint general manager P.K. Mahapatra, visited Rangeilunda and Ramchandrapur on the Berhampur-Gopalpur road to study the feasibility of developing a low-cost small airport.

Earlier, the Centre had taken a decision to set up 51 low-cost airports in tier-II and tier-III cities.

The AAI was insisting for a 3,500-metre long and 500-metre wide runway for the purpose whereas the length of the present runway in Rangeilunda is only 895 metres. Commercial aircrafts will find it difficult to operate from here.

The team also looked into the aspect of extending the Rangeilunda airstrip. It wanted to develop the airstrip into a low-cost airport by adding extra land to its southern and western flanks. But, there is no land available for the expansion of the airstrip, sources said.