Biju Patnaik Air Terminal (BPIA), situated in Bhubaneswar, serves as a crucial infrastructure pillar for East India’s flight system. Renamed after the ex- Chief Minister as well as freedom fighter Biju Patnaik, this air hub has transitioned from a local airstrip into a key international portal managing more than 4.6 million passengers per annum.
Chronological Growth and Strategic Importance https://airport-bbi.com/
### Founding and Initial Growth
Commissioned on 17 April 1962, the airport became Odisha’s primary public flight infrastructure. Its position – 1.8 miles from the urban core of Bhubaneswar – ensured convenient access.
### Crisis Management and Post-COVID Recovery
The coronavirus crisis briefly suspended BBI’s global aspirations, suspending commencing connections to Malaysia’s capital and Bangkok. Nonetheless, May 2023 witnessed a robust resurgence with 6E airline launching flights to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok.
## Infrastructure and Functional Capacities
### Passenger Buildings
BBI’s paired terminal arrangement strategically divides internal and overseas traffic:
– Domestic Terminal: Contains 18 passenger checkpoints
– International Terminal: Offers six registration desks
### Runway and Flight Control
The main landing strip (Runway 14-32) extends 2.7 kilometers, capable of managing jumbo jets.
Financial Influence and Public Value
### Visitor Sector Development
Odisha’s traveler influx increased twofold to 32 million in 2024, linked to BBI’s enhanced connectivity.
### Job Creation
Official statistics show over eight thousand positions in ground handling, retail, and flight navigation.
