The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JAN 7, 2023
Commercial flight services at the Rourkela airport in Sundargarh district was launched on Saturday.
Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the services virtually, while Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off a 72-seater plane of Alliance Air at the Bhubaneswar airport.
The plane was accorded given a ceremonial water cannon welcome on its landing at the Rourkela airport at 11.30 am.
Regular services on the route will begin on January 12 with Bhubaneswar to Rourkela air fare at Rs 2,830, and the return fare at Rs 2,721. The flights will be operated under UDAN regional connectivity scheme by Alliance Air.
The operation of this new route will enhance regional connectivity and promote trade, commerce, and tourism between these cities. The flight will operate seven days a week.
In his inaugural address, Scindia congratulated the residents of both cities and said that there had been unprecedented growth in the Indian civil aviation in last eight years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There were only 74 airports in the country till 2014, today this number including heliports and water aerodromes has increased to 148 which is a 100% increase in eight years.
“Glad to have flagged off the 1st flight to Rourkela Airport. Thank Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji for the support to improve connectivity to the hinterland of Odisha under UDAN. It will boost connectivity, commerce & tourism, fulfilling aspirations of people of the region,” Odisha Chief Minister tweeted.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting the flight service, Pradhan said it will boost business activities in the region.
The flight services were started days ahead of the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup with Rourkela and Bhubaneswar hosting the tournament.
In the context of the upcoming Hockey World Cup which will be organised in these cities of Odisha, the Civil Aviation Minster said that earlier the travel time between Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar to Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium Rourkela used to be nine hours which will now be reduced to one hour ten minutes through flight.
MoS, Ministry of Civil Aviation Dr Vijay Kumar Singh congratulated the residents of the cities and said that there had been significant growth in civil aviation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This new connectivity will play a vital role in the development of the region, he said.
