Bhubaneswar: Following the Centre’s approval of a proposal to lease out 11 airports across the country, including Odisha’s Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday questioned the rationale behind leasing out a profitable airport.

BJD leader Dibya Shankar Mishra questioned who would ultimately benefit from the proposed arrangement. He also raised concerns over the economic benefits that could accrue to a private operator from an airport located on public land and serving the people of Odisha.

Biju Patnaik International Airport is considered one of the most profitable airports in the country. According to available information, the airport earned a profit of around ₹550 crore in 2025-26 and is among the top eight most profitable airports in India.

The airport has been operating successfully for more than six decades and has emerged as a key aviation hub in eastern India.

'Centre should reconsider proposal'

Mishra urged the Centre to reconsider the decision to lease out Bhubaneswar airport and conduct a detailed assessment before proceeding with the process.

However, the BJD said it welcomed the Centre’s focus on developing Bhubaneswar airport.

Notably, the Centre’s Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has reportedly granted in-principle approval to proposals for leasing out 11 airports across the country.

Under the proposed arrangement, the airports have been grouped into five clusters: Amritsar-Kangra, Varanasi-Kushinagar-Gaya, Bhubaneswar-Hubballi, Raipur-Aurangabad and Trichy-Tirupati.

The inclusion of Bhubaneswar Airport in the leasing plan comes at a time when the Centre is considering a proposal to develop a new Terminal-3 at the airport at an estimated investment of around ₹1,200 crore. 

Earlier, there were discussions about pairing Bhubaneswar airport with airports such as Tiruchirappalli or Tirupati for leasing purposes. However, the final proposal has reportedly paired Bhubaneswar with Hubballi airport in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena said the Centre has broad plans for airport management. However, the state government is yet to receive any formal execution papers or lease proposal, he said, adding safeguarding Odisha’s economic interests remains a top priority.