Puri Airport Gains Green Light: Forest Land Cleared

The Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri has moved a step closer to reality with the Centre granting stage-I, in-principle clearance for the diversion of forest land. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the diversion of 27.887 hectares of forest land required for the greenfield project.

This conditional approval, granted on February 27, 2026, mandates strict compliance with several safeguards before final clearance. These include compensatory afforestation over 29.939 hectares of non-forest land and additional afforestation over 59.52 hectares of degraded forest land, both to be financed by the project. The project proponent must also deposit the net present value (NPV) of the diverted land.

Further conditions involve restrictions on tree felling, with a preference for translocation, and supervision by the state Forest department. No labor camps are permitted within the forest land, and alternative fuel arrangements are required. Wildlife management plans and biodiversity protection measures are also emphasized.

The project, initially facing scrutiny in December 2024 over ecological concerns and pending Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, is estimated to cost ₹5,631 crore. It is designed to handle 4.6 million passengers annually and is expected to significantly boost Puri's connectivity and the state's economy.