Private airline SpiceJet on Wednesday announced daily direct flights from Jhasurguda airport in Odisha to Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata from March 31, this year.
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha was also present at the event.
Mr Pradhan said with the air connectivity to west Odisha will make Jhasurguda a hub of technology and tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sinha said these flights will not only increase connectivity to Jhasurguda region but will also enhance facilities, investment, trade and tourism in the region.
He said under the UDAN scheme, around 33 airports have been connected and crores of people are taking advantage of concessional rate scheme.
Tickets booking from the newly built Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda to the three destinations started on Wednesday while flights would be operational from March 31 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN phase 3.
The fare is Rs 3,701 all inclusive on Delhi-Jharsuguda and Hyderabad-Jharsuguda while the fare for Kolkata-Jharsuguda is Rs 2,560.
SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said, “SpiceJet is delighted to provide direct air connectivity from Jharsuguda, one of Odisha’s biggest manufacturing hubs and a top investment destination, to key metro cities and beyond. We are confident that these new flights will do very well much like our other UDAN flights and will give a big push to the economic growth of Odisha.”
SpiceJet is India’s largest and most organized regional player. UDAN III saw SpiceJet bagging 36 new sectors, two catering to the unserved markets of Ghazipur and Jharsuguda whereas nine catering to the underserved markets of Adampur, Agra, Belagavi, Bhavnagar, Durgapur, Gwalior, Kishangarh, Pantnagar, and Tanjore.
The Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (UNI)
