Bhubaneswar: To position Odisha as a front-runner in next-generation aviation, state govt has partnered with local deep-tech startup BonV Aero to establish a National UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Test and Innovation Corridor at Rangeilunda in Ganjam district.The facility is set to become India’s first operational commercial airport repurposed as a live, real-world testing ground for drone technology. An agreement in this regard was signed recently between state govt and BonV Aero at the Wings India 2026 summit in Hyderabad.
Under the pact, the Odisha-based startup will lead indigenous research, development and testing aimed at strengthening India’s unmanned aviation system. The proposed corridor at Rangeilunda will allow UAV trials in dynamic, low-altitude airspace of up to 1,000 metres.At present, conventional testing zones are confined to restricted lab environments, imposing limitations on drone operations. According to BonV Aero, the initiative seeks to formalise low-altitude airspace as a critical national infrastructure asset on par with highways, ports and digital spectrum.The chief minister’s office (CMO), in a post on X, said the MoU was among two key agreements signed by the state during the summit. As part of the larger civil aviation push, a new flying training organisation will also be established at Dandaboshtha in Mayurbhanj district.“The first dedicated UAV training and testing centre will come up at Rangeilunda. These visionary projects aim to equip youth with advanced, future-ready skills and generate new employment opportunities. This will transform Odisha into a major hub in the country’s aviation and drone technology sectors,” the CMO said.Speaking about the pact, Usha Padhee, principal secretary, commerce and transport department, said the state is laying the foundation for the next era of mobility. “With deep-tech innovators like BonV Aero, Rangeilunda will become a national proving ground where regulators and industry jointly shape the economy,” she said.Aligned with the Centre’s B-MAAN scheme, the UAV corridor will be developed in phases, according to the startup’s official statement, focusing on advanced aerial capabilities such as swarm testing, AI-driven navigation, autonomous airspace management and high-density UAV operations.Satyabrata Satapathy, chief executive officer and co-founder of BonV Aero, said the ecosystem would significantly cut down technology readiness timelines. “It allows us to validate autonomy stacks, propulsion systems and mission reliability in real-world conditions,” he said.Designed as a regulatory sandbox for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, the corridor will leverage Odisha’s diverse coastal and hinterland geography, supporting applications in defence logistics, disaster response and commercial drone delivery services, BonV Aero said.
