Jharsuguda to get flight connectivity in November

The Odisha government is all set to launch flight services to Jharsuguda, an industrial hub, by November-end under the central government's UDAN scheme, said an official on Tuesday.

Holding a review meeting here, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said he has ordered expeditious infrastructure development in the airstrips of Rourkela, Jeypore and Utkela for making those ready for Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) flights.

"We will be ready to start the operation to Jharsuguda by November. We are yet to get confirmation from the private operators. As soon as they get ready, the services will be launched," said Padhi.

The state-based operator Air Odisha is likely to launch its flight services in the UDAN scheme from November. In the first phase, it will operate from Ahmedabad to Bhavanagar, Jamnagar, Diu and Mundra, said informed sources.

"For Rourkela, we are sorting out issues with Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) which had initially agreed to manage the airport," Padhi said.

According to data, five airstrips of Odisha including Biju Patnaik International Airport were selected for UDAN scheme in Phase-I. The four other airstrips are Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Utkela (Kalahandi) and Jeypore (Koraput).

It is expected that subsidies and financial assistance would make the ticket cost affordable. According to informed sources, the average price of a ticket would be around Rs 2,500.

--IANS

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