Bhubaneswar: Two days ahead of the regular flight services, a trial run was conducted between Utkela Airport in Odisha’s Kalahandi district and Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
The flight took off from Bhubaneswar at 8.22 am and landed at the airport, 15 km from the district headquarters of Bhawanipatna, at 9.20 am. The flight then left Utkela at 9.45 pm, sources said.
The flight service to Bhubaneshwar will start on the August 31, and the maiden flight is likely take off at 10.35 am. IndiaOne Air will engage a nine-seater aircraft to start air service between Utkela Airport and BPIA in Bhubaneswar in the first phase. The service is likely to be extended to Raipur in Chhattisgarh in the subsequent phase.
Utkela Airport is among the airstrips listed under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN. The state government has spent around Rs 162 crore for acquisition of land, construction of runway and terminal building for the airport in Bhawanipatna.
Director General Civil Aviation Monday (DGCA) issued the licence to start flight operations on August 7 and now, preparations for the inauguration are on at the airport.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia is expected to inaugurate the maiden flight via video conferencing. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be present at Bhubaneswar airport and Commerce & Transport Tukuni Sahu along with local MP Basanta Panda at Utkela Airport, sources added.
The CM had earlier said that the flight operation from Utkela Airport will boost connectivity, commerce, and tourism, fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the region.
