Jharsuguda All Set For Flight Operation

Bhubaneswar: In another significant step towards the growth of business and tourism in Odisha, the state government is all set to start the first regional air connectivity (RCS) operation from Jharsuguda.

The flight operation from Jhasusguda to Bhubaneswar is scheduled to start from June 14.

This was decided at the State Level Monitoring Committee meeting on RCS-UDAN presided over by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat here on Thursday.

Present at the meeting, principal secretary, General Administration, Public Grievances andCivil Aviation Ashok Kumar Meena outlined the issues for discussion.

Reviewing the progress and preparedness for starting the UDAN operation, the chief secretary advised the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) to expand the facilities for training of security personnel provide training here in Bhubaneswar so that more security personnel could be trained quickly.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the Rourkela airstrip has been made ready for UDAN operation for which a MoU has been signed between SAIL and AAI regarding airstrip management and operation. The state government would also provide security and fire personnel for Rourkela airstrip. The runway expansion work in Jeypore and Utkela is completed while the Obstacle and Limitation Surface (OLS) survey of all the four airports has also been completed.

The chief secretary directed to complete other associated civil works by June 2018.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Meena said that operation certificate for Jharsuguda airport has already been sanctioned. Fire personnel have already been trained and deployed. The Home department has deputed the security personnel for the security of the airport. While the first phase of induction training is already over, the BACS has been requested to train the required number of personnel for deployed, he added.

Stating that the application has already been submitted for civil aviation license for Rourkela, Meena said the flight operation would start after getting the license.

It may be pertinent here to mention that the state government has provided the manpower and financial support to make the regional connectivity scheme viable during initial periods.

The state government has provided around 20 percent of the viability gap funding. Besides, it has also provided land, security and fire services. The electricity and water would also be provided at a minimum rate.

This apart, the state government has decided to provide these subsidies and financial assistance for regional air connectivity as a part of its ‘Make in Odisha’ initiative.  It is expected that such subsidies and financial assistance will keep the ticket cost at an affordable level. Sources said the average price of a ticket to be paid by the passengers for these flights would be around two thousand and five hundred.

Routes like Bhubaneswar to Utkela, Utklela to Raipur, Bhubaneswar to Jeypore, Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda to Ranchi and Bhubaneswar to Rourkela have been suggested for regional connectivity.

Additional chief secretary, Asit Kumar Tripathy, principal secretary, Finance Tuhin Kanta Pandey,  principal secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Dr Chandra Sekhar Kumar, secretary, Works Nalinikanta Pradhan, Director, Civil Aviation Pradeep Kumar Biswal along with senior officers from Ministry of Civil Aviation, BACS, and departments of Finance, Revenue & Disaster Management, Regional Connectivity Airline operators and oil companies were present at the meeting.