The Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda will soon have flight services to two more cities — Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said this after presiding over a meeting of the Regional Air Connectivity Council here today.He directed officials to widen the Airstrip at Rourkela for preperation of bigger flights which would benefit people.
Presently, Rourkela Airport with 5,900 ft runway has been made ready for operation of 19 seated flights.Decision has been taken to launch flight services from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Raipur.Air Port Authority of India has also floated the bidding inviting offer from Airlines operators.
The Chief Secretary directed to complete the construction of terminal building, runway and other associated infrastructure at Jeypore Airport in Koraput district as per the master plan of works departments with estimated cost of Rs 55 crore.
Flight services will start operating from Jeypore after the completion of basic infrastructure work.
Official sources said the social impact study of Utkela Airstrip in Kalahandi district has already been completed and submitted to Government.No major displacement and rehabilitation are involved in it and the process for land acquisition has been started.
The Chief Secretary asked the officials to complete the process within the scheduled time.
Official sources said four Airstrips- Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Utkela (Kalahandi) and Jeypore (Koraput) of Odisha were selected for UDAN scheme.
Biju Patnaik International Air Port, Bhubaneswar would serve as mentor Airport.
As of now, Jharsuguda has been connected with Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raipur. Two more flights to Bangalore and Kolkata would come up shortly from Jharsuguda.
Odisha government is providing manpower and financial support to make the regional connectivity scheme viable during initial periods. State Government has decided to reduce VAT from 5 per cent to 1 per cent and provide 20 per cent of the Viable Gap Funding. State Government will also provide land, security and fire services.
Around 43 security personnel and 9 fire service personnel will be deployed in each airport. Apart from that State Government would also provide manpower for management of Airport of Jeypore and Utkela.
Electricity and water would also be provided by the State Government at concessional rates. The routes like Bhubaneswar to Utkela, Utklela to Raipur, Bhubaneswar to Jeypore, Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda to Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar to Rourkela have been suggested for regional connectivity.
State Government has decided to support the regional air connectivity scheme as a part of Make in Odisha initiative.(UNI)
