Bhubaneswar: The state government will set up Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre (BPAC) at Birasal airstrip in Dhenkanal district of Odisha.
The state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a proposal in this regard.
The state government will spend Rs 562 crore for setting up of the aviation training centre.
The aviation centre will provide training for pilot, simulator and cabin crew among other things.
The BPAC will be established in accordance with the Civil Aviation Policy-2022 of the state government, said an official.
Once this project is implemented, Odisha will be in a prominent position in aviation sector and can create a pipeline of qualified workforce in aviation industry, he added.
“India faces a pressing need to consistently produce 2,000 pilots annually over the next 20 years to meet the escalating demand for airline pilots. The BPAC aims at creating 500 professionals annually,” said the official.
The establishment of the aviation centre will significantly benefit the local economy. It will create a surge in economic activities through growth in tourism, hospitality sector and demand for local business, he added.
