Bhubaneswar: The city administration has turned its focus on development of the area around Biju Patnaik International Airport with special attention on improving the environment and services for the airport goers.

A high-level meeting was held on Wednesday for the purpose with officials discussing issues, including animal menace, disturbance by meat vendors, ban on use of crackers in the surroundings and shifting of slums for expansion of the airport.

Besides, discussion was held for allocation of a suitable parking space for city bus services, easing the vehicular movement at the entry and exit points of the airport and provision of a ceremonial lounge for the VIP and VVIP movements.

"We observed that traffic congestion remained paramount during landing of multiple flights within a short period of time. At present, there are two entry and exit points - which is not enough. That's why, we have decided to have a third exit point at the airport shortly," said airport director Suresh Chandra Hota.

Besides, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will take steps for provision of a parking space for city bus services to and from the airport. "We are unable to start the city bus services because of the unavailability of parking space. We will co-ordinate with the airport authority and identify a space for the purpose," said mayor A.N. Jena.

At present, people are facing problems at the airport because of the limited availability of transport service, which is only confined to private cabs and auto-rickshaws. The airport authorities have started the process to put up a city bus counter at its terminal. "It is high time to start public transport services to and from the airport," said Jeena Acharya, a regular flyer.

The civic body has also decided to conduct enforcement drives for the removal of meat and fish shop vendors around the airport area. Municipal commissioner Krishan Ku-mar has assured the vendors of rehabilitation at the modern meat shops at Unit-IV.

Moreover, to control the animal menace in and around the airport area, the civic body will intensify sterilisation operations on stray dogs, remove or trim bush and debris, along with trees planted in parks and private land adjacent to the airport boundary. A jackal had sneaked into the airport area in 2016, creating a headache for the authorities.

"We have plugged all the holes inside the airport to stop the entry of animals, but there is a possibility that they could jump over the boundary. The civic body and the forest authority have been requested to help us stop this menace. We have also decided to raise the height of the boundary wall to 12 feet," said an official.