Architect behind Odisha airport

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 25

A Ludhiana-based architect is the man behind the design of seven airports in the country. The Jharsuguda Airport, Odisha’s second airport which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister three days ago, has been designed by architect Kanav Khosla.

“The airport is special as it has the minimal impact on environment. This is one of the greenest airports in the tier-3 airports in the country as many eco-friendly features have been added to the airport,” he says.

“The airport has been designed to require least amount of air-conditioning with features like cavity-windows, making use of the optimum ambient light requiring least use of lighting. Water used at the airport is also recycled which can be used for irrigation purposes, apart from several other eco-friendly construction material, including fly-ash bricks,” he added.

Speaking about the challenges involved in designing the airport, he said the site where the airport had been constructed was not easily accessible as it took around 48 hours to reach the place. But he is contented that he has been instrumental in the project that will provide air-connectivity to the people of Odisha.

“Given that it is only the second airport of the state, it is satisfying to have been part of the project which is crucial for the people of Odisha, helping put a rather difficult to access place on the aviation map,” he said.

Pertinently, this is the seventh airport design for Khosla in the past 10 years.

Another airport at Kadapa designed by him has already been inaugurated earlier, while he continues to work on five other airports. He considers it as an achievement considering that the firm started by his father, Avinash Kholsa and Associates, also completes 50 years this year.