Bhubaneswar: The iconic Dakota aircraft of legendary leader Biju Patnaik will arrive at Odisha capital on January 16.
According to sources, the Dakota VT-AVI aircraft that was parked at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata was dismantled. Its parts are being brought to Bhubaneswar on road. After assembling the parts at Bhubaneswar airport, the aircraft will be kept at a prominent place on its premises.
Notably, the Odisha government had begun the process to bring the aircraft in 2019. On January 21, 2020, the then Commerce and Transport Secretary, Premanand Khuntia, had written to the AAI to seek its permission in the matter.
Following the AAI’s approval, a Kolkata-based company, Neelu Interiors, was given the contract for shifting the aircraft to Bhubaneswar. But the process was delayed due to COVID pandemic and resultant lockdown. The state government again revived the process last year.
Out of 18 Dakota VT-AVI aircraft of the erstwhile Kalinga Airlines owned by Biju Patnaik, 12 have been completely damaged. Of the six remaining aircraft, one was kept at Kolkata airport, one at Chhatrapati Sivaji International Airport in Mumbai and the Indonesian government has kept one. However, there is no information about the remaining three aircraft.
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