Govt Looks To Connect 4 Tourist, Spiritual Destinations In Odisha Under UDAN 5.0

Bhubaneswar: For affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to include four more airstrips in Odisha under Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) 5.0 scheme.

According to sources, the airstrips near Baripada, Konark, Hirakud and Malkangiri have been proposed to be developed as potential airports under its plan to connect more than 54 wildlife and tourism destinations.

“So far, the government has identified 54 non-operational airstrips which are in close proximity to tourist, wildlife, or religious destinations for the upcoming UDAN 5.0 round,” an official said.

While Malkangiri and Hirakud airstrips come under ‘airports in proximity to tourist destinations’ category, Baripada and Konark airstrips fall in ‘airports in proximity to spiritual places’ segment.

In addition, a total of 29 tourist destinations with non-operational airstrips are also likely to be open for bids, the official added.

Notably, the airstrips in Jeypore, Rourkela and Utkela in Odisha, which have already been included under the UDAN scheme, are yet to start operations.