Bhubaneswar, April 4 -- The long-awaited Puri International Airport project has received a major boost, with the Central Government granting Stage-I (in-principle) approval for diversion of forest land, paving the way for its development.

According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the proposal submitted by the Odisha Government has been approved under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The clearance was granted after the proposal was examined by the Advisory Committee constituted by the Centre.

As per the notification, the Central Government has accorded "in-principle/Stage-I" approval for the diversion of 27.887 hectares of DLC forest land under t...