The State Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution to recommend the State Government to move the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for naming the newly constructed airport at Jharsuguda as Veer Surendra Sai Airport.

On behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh brought the resolution for discussion and passing. During discussion, members belonging to all the parties supported the resolution.

Initiating discussion, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said he had also made a demand to name the Jharsguda Airport after noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.

“Veer Surendra Sai had entered freedom struggle at the age of 18. He had spent most of the time in the jail. There can’t be two opinions in naming the Jharsuguda Airport after the great freedom fighter. The move would certainly be a great respect to Sai,” said Mishra.

He demanded that the word ‘Santh’ is pre-fixed to the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir, as a mark of respect to the great poet.

Other members like Dr Ramesh Chandra Chyaupatnaik (BJD), Pradeep Purohit (BJP), Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy, Maheshwar Sahoo (BJD), Ranendra Pratap swain (BJD), Jogendra Behera (BJD), Sanjeeb Sahoo (BJD) and Prafull Majhi supported the resolution and the demand of Mishra.

Following discussion, the resolution was passed unanimously.Keeping his view, Health and Family Minister Pratap Jena welcomed the  Leader of Oppositon’s demand for adding ‘Santh’ before the name of Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital and the medical college would be renamed as Santha Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir soon.