The Odisha government has decided to establish a Rs 562-crore aviation training centre to address the increasing demand for pilots and skilled personnel in the sector, announced Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi. The proposal to create the Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre (BPAC) at Birasal airstrip in Dhenkanal district was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The upcoming centre, aligned with the Civil Aviation Policy-2022, will provide training for pilots, simulators, and cabin crew. With the aim of generating 500 professionals annually, the training institute will contribute to meeting India’s urgent requirement for 2,000 pilots per year for the next two decades.
Minister Marndi emphasized the positive impact of the proposed training center on the local economy and its support for the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector. The cabinet meeting also approved amendments to the NUA-O (Nutanm Unnata Abhilasa-Odisha) scholarship guidelines, broadening its scope to include students pursuing various non-technical undergraduate and postgraduate courses in institutions.
Higher Education Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Development Commissioner Anu Garg were present at the press briefing, where a total of 17 proposals from different departments were approved. The state government has allocated Rs 6,164.80 crore until the 2028-29 fiscal year to develop ‘Ama Bus Stands’ in all blocks of Odisha over the next six years, covering 318 bus stands across the state under the scheme.
