The abandoned Amarda airstrip at Rasgobindpur in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, which was used during World War II, will be developed into a modern airstrip.

The ministry of defence (MoD) has granted working permission to the Odisha government to go ahead with the development of the airstrip following the consent of the President of India.

The MoD has also conveyed its decision to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Director General Defence Estates.

The state will develop the airstrip in an area of 160.35 acres. However, the state will develop the land on the basis of cash compensation of Rs 26.03 crore.

The order said: “The working permission on defence land measuring 160.35 acres at Amarda Road in the district of Mayurbhanj, Odisha, on the basis of cash compensation amounting to Rs 26,03,10,438 in lieu of defence land.”

The wartime Amarda airstrip has one of the longest runways with around 900 acres of land.

The airport also has the infrastructure for setting up aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. The airport is closer to the DRDO’s Chandipur base at Balasore, 30km from there.

However, the ministry has set a few conditions for it.

According to the condition, a separate Board of Officers (BOO) will be constituted to ascertain the exact location, demarcation of land, its cost and modalities of transfer, and security steps for government and private assets and cost of their demolition, relocation of reconstruction before handing over the land to the state.

“The BOO will also demarcate the quantum of land to be mutually used by the Odisha government and the DRDO. It will complete the proceeding in four weeks from the issue of the working permission. In case there is variation in area, revised MOD sanction will be required to be obtained,” the order said.