The Biju Patnaik International Airport has grown from a small-sized facility to one that handles millions of passengers. Along the way, it encountered its own set of challenges, particularly one that required special attention due to its proximity to the East Coast. Talking to Clean India Journal’s, Principal Correspondent, Manka Behl, Airport Director, Prasanna Pradhan explains how they addressed the challenges.
Designed to handle a modest flow of travellers, the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar today finds itself operating in a very different sphere — one defined by surging passenger numbers, automated systems, and a growing emphasis on sustainability and hygiene. In less than three years after the pandemic, the airport crossed the 5 million-passenger mark, pushing a mid-sized terminal to rethink how cleanliness, capacity, and passenger experience are managed. From Digi Yatra and inline baggage systems to running entirely on green energy, the airport’s transformation reflects how India’s aviation infrastructure is adapting to scale without compromising on efficiency or hygiene.
Director of the Biju Patnaik International Airport Prasanna Pradhan has been heading it for over three years now. Before taking charge at Bhubaneswar, he served as General Manager (Administration) at the Corporate Headquarters (CHQ) and earlier worked as an accredited air traffic controller.
Much of his early career was rooted in technical operations. However, over time, administrative responsibilities and exposure to passenger-facing roles gave him insight into service delivery and cleanliness expectations. “I had little bit of experience in cleanliness and meeting expectations of the passengers,” he says, referring to the gradual shift in perspective that came with managing people and services.
Handling Pressures
Reflecting on the post-Covid period, Pradhan said there has been a sharp rise in passenger traffic at Bhubaneswar Airport. “In a span of three years, the airport grew rapidly. From handling around 3 million passengers earlier, we witnessed over 5 million passengers in the last calendar year,” he says.
For a mid-sized terminal, this growth came with operational strain. Handling the higher numbers in such infrastructure, Pradhan says, is “really a tough job”, requiring detailed planning, constant monitoring, and sustained motivation of teams.
Cleanliness Challenge
Peak-hour operations, according to the Director, present the most significant challenge. Passenger expectations rise during these periods, while infrastructure and manpower are under maximum stress. “You have to plan everything according to the schedule of the airlines,” Pradhan explains, pointing out that cleanliness in passenger areas, security hold areas, and toilets demands extra attention during busy hours.
Pradhan describes cleaning as inherently repetitive work, noting that sameness can affect alertness and performance. “Cleanliness is a monotonous play,” he says, adding that teams need continuous motivation, feedback, and counselling to maintain standards.
Changing manpower deployment patterns and actively engaging staff, he believes, helps sustain results and ensures passenger satisfaction.
Cleanliness Matters
Cleanliness, Pradhan believes, has a direct impact on how passengers perceive an airport. “Whenever you are entering an airport, cleanliness makes you feel good,” he says, calling it a fundamental aspect of human psychology.
Pradhan explains that orderly spaces, clean toilets, and well-maintained ambience create a feel-good factor. “These elements are governed by standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned with passenger expectations,” he adds.
Managing Partners
Housekeeping services at the airport are outsourced, and expectations are clearly defined. “We benchmarked and we set them a target,” he says, referring to performance standards for cleaning, garbage disposal, and material usage.
Cleaning schedules, vigilance during peak hours, and service quality benchmarks are standardized. “We also invest in training programs focused on soft skills and service delivery. Experts from hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, and hospitality sectors are engaged to train staff in organized and passenger-friendly work practices,” says Pradhan.
Highlighting the areas that demand constant attention in an airport, Pradhan’s top picks are crowded passenger zones, garbage bins, and toilets. These spaces, he says, must remain “clean and hygienic” at all times due to their high usage.
Managing Expectations
As passenger numbers increased, Bhubaneswar International Airport had to undertake infrastructure upgrades while remaining fully operational. The airport chief explains that this required careful reconfiguration rather than large-scale shutdowns. “Because it is a running airport, we had to strategically plan infrastructural changes,” Pradhan adds.
As a part of capacity augmentation, entry gates in the departure area were expanded from two to four, and additional toilets were constructed.
Beyond physical infrastructure, another challenge has been managing the human dimension of a fast-growing airport. “Many staff members had been working under relatively stable conditions for years and were not immediately accustomed to sudden surges in passenger volumes. Strategic planning and consistent motivation are critical,” says Pradhan.
Automation Use
According to the Director, technology has increasingly been used to manage passenger flow and reduce congestion at the airport. One of the key interventions was the introduction of Digi Yatra in September last year.
“It significantly reduces wait times and there are a smaller number of people involved,” Pradhan says, explaining that document checking and authentication became more efficient while also enhancing security.
Another major upgrade was the implementation of the inline baggage handling system. “Earlier, baggage screening involved standalone machines and manual handling, which took considerable time. Now you simply come and drop your bag at the checking counter and automatically it will be screened,” says Pradhan, describing the system introduced last year as a major support in handling higher passenger volumes.
On the airside, Bhubaneswar Airport undertook multiple projects to increase runway and aircraft-handling capacity. A parallel taxi track and a rapid exit taxi track were constructed, enabling faster aircraft movement and improved runway utilization.
Automation also extended to air traffic control systems. The introduction of an automated ATC system in 2024 helped reduce aircraft waiting times and delays. “There was a less waiting time in air, good sequencing as well as less waiting time on ground,” says Pradhan, adding that this also reduced stress on air traffic controllers.
Green Energy
Sustainability initiatives gained momentum at the Bhubaneswar airport with the installation of a 4 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in May 2023. The Director explains that this power from the solar plant and combined with green power procurement from the state electricity distribution company, enables the airport to operate entirely on renewable energy.
“The airport is running on 100% green energy,” says Pradhan. He further informs that energy-efficient LED lighting systems have replaced conventional lighting across terminal buildings, city-side areas, airside zones, and ground lighting. “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) operations are also optimized through a Building Management System (BMS) to improve energy efficiency,” he adds.
However, sustainability, as per Pradhan, extends beyond energy use into waste management practices. “The airport follows color-coded waste segregation for wet waste, dry waste, and plastic waste, even as it works toward reducing plastic usage. Waste disposal is carefully planned around flight schedules and peak traffic periods. Decentralised collection system is a must. By collecting waste in smaller quantities across multiple locations rather than in one central point, the airport avoids hygiene issues and visual clutter, making disposal more efficient,” says Pradhan.
Disaster Management
As it is situated along India’s eastern coast, the Bhubaneswar Airport is vulnerable to cyclones. It was a documented contingency and disaster management plan that helped the airport respond to a severe cyclone that hit Odisha in 2023.
Recalling the incident, Pradhan says, “Operations were suspended a few hours before the cyclone, and the teams prepared the airport for rapid restoration. After the cyclone passed, the airport resumed the operations soon. Our disaster preparedness is guided by documented contingency and disaster management plans.”
Pradhan adds that coordination with the state government forms a critical part of this preparedness strategy.