Bhubaneswar: A non-scheduled flight is slated will take off from Rangeilunda airstrip near Berhampur city in Odisha’s Ganjam district to Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
An aircraft carrying nine passengers will fly to the state capital on the occasion of the birth anniversary of legendary leader and former chief minister Biju Patnaik, sources said.
Sources said the preparation for the first trial flight and work on the airstrip terminal has been completed.
Principal Secretary of Commerce and Transport, department Usha Padhee inspected the infrastructure development work ahead of the flight take off.
She went around the runway of the airstrip and held discussions with the officers of the district administration and police officials.
Besides reviewing the terminal work of the airstrip and runway condition, she directed the officials concerned to give utmost importance to the safety aspect.
It may be noted that Rangeilunda airstrip has been included under UDAN and Rural Connectivity scheme of the Civil Aviation Ministry. Some flights are likely to be operated from the airstrip in the first phase. With an expansion and development of the airstrip, the air traffic will be given more importance in second and third phase in coming days, sources.
In the initial phase, a small aircraft will fly from Rangeilunda to Bhubaneswar. It will fly to Bhubaneswar twice a week. On assessment of demand and needs of the people, a decision will be taken on increasing the number of flights and the number of seats in the second and third phase after the land expansion of the airport, sources added.
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