Bhubaneswar: With uncertainty looming over newly-inaugurated Jharsuguda airport, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately restore UDAN flight operations.
He also apprised him of the fact that the Centre was yet to issue a notification with regards to naming the airport after Veer Surendra Sai Airport, as announced by Modi during the inauguration as a befitting tribute to the freedom fighter.
The Prime Minister had dedicated the airport to the nation and flagged an UDAN flight operated by Air Odisha on September 22.
“I may bring to your kind notice that Air Odisha has suddenly suspended its flight operations from Jharsuguda after October 6 without any valid reason. The abrupt suspension of the existing operations has given a severe jolt to the aviation sector in the state and has also hurt the sentiments of the people of western Odisha,” he said.
Naveen said he had requested the Centre to consider introduction of commercial flights in addition to the UDAN flights, to make it a full-fledged commercial airport.
“The state government is committed to provide all necessary fund and support for further expansion of the airport,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged the PM to direct Ministry of Civil Aviation for immediate restoration of UDAN flight operations and also explore the possibility of starting operations from Jharsuguda to other parts of the state and neighbouring states through any airlines, either under-RCS-UDAN or otherwise.
“I shall be grateful, if you may kindly instruct Air India to start the operation from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi via Jharsuguda so that people of western parts of Odisha can be benefited,” he added.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha lifters continued their brilliant form at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Suva, Fiji, as…
Patna: Over 20 houses were set on fire in a Dalit settlement at Bihar’s Nawada…
Bhubaneswar: After a brief lull, heavy rain may resume in Odisha from September 22, the…
New Delhi: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharama, launched the National Pension…
Puri: As the BJP government in Odisha completed 100 days, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi…
Bhubaneswar: The alleged custodial assault of a serving Army officer and his fiancée at Bharatpur…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to boost economic growth, the Odisha government has approved 12…
New Delhi: The Jharkhand government has filed a contempt petition against the Union government for…