Odisha to Launch First Commercial Airport Drone Test Corridor | 04 Feb 2026

Why in News? 

The Government of Odisha has announced to establish the first commercial airport drone test corridor at Rangeilunda Airport in Ganjam district. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The corridor aims to create regulated and dynamic airspace for comprehensive testing of commercial drones and UAV systems under real‑world conditions, enabling advanced research and applications. 
  • It includes support for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), swarm drone testing, AI-based navigation, and autonomous airspace management scenarios. 
• Partnership: The project involves a collaboration with BonV Aero, a local deep‑tech startup. 
• Scope: The test corridor is designed to support real‑world UAV trials, including navigation systems, autonomous operations, payload tests, and applications like logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and disaster response. 
  • Odisha’s initiative complements other developments in the state’s aviation and aerospace sectors, including drone training centres and flying training organisations being planned at regional airports. 
• Importance: The corridor is expected to boost the startup ecosystem, attract investments in drone technology, enhance skill development, and position Odisha as a hub for unmanned aviation innovation in India.