Two more flights from Odisha's Jharsuguda

Bhubaneswar: People from Jharsuguda can now directly fly to Bengaluru along with other cities as flight service to the southern city would soon start from the Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda.

The airport will also get one more flight to Kolkata shortly, according to the decision taken at a review meeting of regional connectivity scheme-UDAN here.

Flight operations from Jharsuguda airport started on March 31. While private carrier, SpiceJet, operates flights from Jharsuguda to New Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata, regional operator Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India operates flights to Raipur and Bhubaneswar. SpiceJet will operate one flight from Jharsuguda to Bengaluru from October 27. Alliance Air, which was scheduled to start one flight to Kolkata in July but called off the plan at the last moment, would start operation soon, said Jharsuguda airport director Sudesh Kumar Chauhan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Jharsuguda airport in September 2018 making it the second airport in Odisha after the Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar. The airport witnesses 600 footfalls daily, official sources said. The chief secretary also reviewed progress of the airstrip at Rourkela to commence flight services from the Steel City. An official statement said the chief secretary has directed that infrastructure at the airstrip be strengthened.

At present, Rourkela airstrip with 5,900 ft runway has been readied to operate 19-seaterflights. Routes like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Raipur have been decided for the airport. The Airports Authority of India has floated tender inviting airline operators to start services from Rourkela, said an official statement issued by the chief secretary’s office. Instructions have also been issued to complete construction of terminal building, runway and other associated infrastructure at Jeypore airport in Koraput district. The airport is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 55 crore, said director, civil aviation, Himansu Bhusan Panda.

The civil aviation wing under the general administration department has also submitted the progress report on development of Utkela airstrip in Kalahandi district, which is also being developed under the UDAN scheme.