The Biju Janata Dal has stepped up its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre over a reported proposal to lease the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar out to a private entity.

“The BJP-led Central Government has approved the leasing of Biju Patnaik International Airport to a private entity. The BJP government has approved a proposal to club Biju Patnaik International Airport with Hubballi Airport in Karnataka and hand them over to a private entity under the Public-Private Partnership mode,” said Dibya Shankar Mishra, BJD MLA and former Minister, addressing a press conference on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).

“It is highly condemnable that this important airport of Odisha, named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik, is being handed over to a private entity. Normally, government institutions that are not generating profits are considered for leasing to private entities. However, Biju Patnaik International Airport is one of the profitable airports in India,” Mr. Mishra said.

He added, “Biju Patnaik International Airport is estimated to be worth between ₹5,000 crore and ₹7,000 crore. Around 50 lakh people travel through this airport every year. In 2022-23, the Central Government earned a profit of ₹238 crore from this airport. Going forward, it is expected to generate profits of more than ₹500 crore.”

Stating that former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made significant contributions towards the development and expansion of the airport, the BJD MLA said, “the people of Odisha will not accept the decision to hand over the airport to a private entity on a 50-year lease.”

“There is a need to take steps for the further development of Biju Patnaik International Airport and construct additional terminals. If the Central Government invests funds in the development of the airport, it will generate even greater profits,” he asserted.

“Instead of doing so, the government has decided to lease out the airport by handing over its management and operations to a private entity. Why, then, is the BJP Government attempting to privatise the airport, and in whose interest is this being done?” said the BJD leader.

The regional party demanded that the BJP-led Central Government should immediately withdraw this order. The BJD will launch a strong agitation against the decision, it said.