Cabinet Approves IndiGo Bid For International Flights From Bhubaneswar; Know Other Decisions

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday on Tuesday approved a bid of IndiGo airline for operation of direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok.

The approval was given at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. Informing people about the cabinet decisions, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said in order to make Odisha a leading state in the field of international flight operations, Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok would be connected directly from Bhubaneswar. An RFP was floated for selection of a suitable airline operator for the purpose.

IndiGo has applied for its operation through these routes. As a result, 186 seater flight will operate from
Bhubaneswar airport and the expenditure will be borne by state government towards flight operation. In return, the revenue generated through ticketing will be retained by the government.

Following are other major proposals that were approved at the Cabinet meeting:

• Extension of government Grant-in-Aid to eligible employees of New-Aided Non-Government High Schools, Upper Primary (ME) Schools and Madrasas. About 26,164 teaching and non-teaching employees of the New-Aided Non-Government High Schools, UP(ME) Schools and Madrasas who are in receipt of 100% Grant-in-Aid as on 31-12-2021 will be benefited by such enhancement. The additional financial implication will be Rs 280.48 crore per annum.
• Provision of Rs 367.19 crore for five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27 for implementation of the “Empowerment of Women in Agriculture-Promotion of Entrepreneurship for Women SHG”.
• Provision of Rs 1142.24 crore for four years from 2022-23 to 2025-26 for Development of Potato, Vegetable and Spices with the involvement of WSHGs and FPOs.
• Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Policy Programme proposed to be funded through World Bank. It has been designed for development of a Social Protection Delivery Platform by the Electronics & Information Technology Department, strengthening the statistical system by the Planning & Convergence Department and development of disaster resilient infrastructure by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority under Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The project has a duration of 5 years with an estimated cost of  Rs 1183 crore
• The Odisha MSME Development Policy 2022 replacing the existing Odisha MSME Development Policy, 2016.
• Execution of 2 Mega Piped Water Supply Projects to provide safe drinking water in Angul district out of JJM funding. With this, around 2,32,189 people of 277 villages under 48 GPs of 2 blocks will benefit.