Union Minister Writes To Naveen On Aviation Infra Growth In Odisha

New Delhi: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia has sought the personal intervention of the chief ministers of five states including Odisha in expediting the matters related to strengthening the aviation infrastructure in their states.

The minister has sought the intervention of the CMs of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Odisha in view of the fact that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked upon development and expansion of airports in the country at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore in next 4-5 years in order to meet the growing passenger demand.

In his letter to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Scindia has highlighted the following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in the state:

• AAI has projected land requirements of 178 acre at Jharsuguda for Phase–II expansion of the Airport. The land is yet to be handed over.
• Jeypore and Utkela airports need to be developed at the earliest by the state government for operations of RCS–UDAN flights.
• Rs 1.48 crore is outstanding on part of the state government as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT).
• The state government may give its consent to provide 100% VGF support for international UDAN operations on Bhubaneswar–Dubai, Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi, Bhubaneswar–Bangkok, Bhubaneswar–Kuala Lumpur, Bhubaneswar–Colombo, Bhubaneswar–Singapore and Bhubaneswar–Kathmandu routes. On receipt of the consent of state government for 100% VGF support, the routes will be put for bidding by the airlines.