Air travel service provider under ‘Udaan’ (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, Air Odisha started its journey in the state of Chhattisgarh connecting flights with Vizag in Andhra Pradesh.
Honourable prime minister of India, Narendra Modi recently inaugurated Air Odisha’s flight route Jagdalpur-Raipur-Vizag from Bhilai via a live video. In terms of outright benefits to the passengers and travellers, Raipur-Jagdalpur (288 km by road) travel time of 15 hours by train and six-seven hours by road shrinks to a mere 40 minutes that to at a cost of INR 1,670.
On this occasion, Shaishav Shah, managing director, Air Odisha’s & executive director, GSEC, “We are happy to announce the launch of our new routes in Chhattisgarh connecting with Andhra Pradesh. The UDAN scheme is an excellent scheme initiated under the flagship of our honourable prime minister, Narendra Modi which would aid to the growth of the economy where a common man can also now travel in a more affordable and convenient way and we are delighted to be a part of this historic moment of the nation’s aviation sector.”
UDAN is to let the common citizens of the country fly by making the air travel affordable and widespread and Air Odisha is able to materialise this goal. With every passing month, Air Odisha is adding more regions to its radar for better connectivity in the towns. In this context commencement of regional connectivity scheme in towns like Jagdalpur, Raipur, Vizag continue to demonstrate Air Odisha’s growth.
The objective of Regional Connectivity Scheme is to make flying affordable for the masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional growth. It also intends to put life into un-served and underserved airports, added Shah.
Bastar airport has been developed at a cost of INR 39.58 crore and licensed in 2C VFR category on April 14, 2018. Air Odisha Aviation is commencing air operations under UDAN scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation, presently connecting Jagdalpur to Raipur on daily basis on route Raipur -Jagdalpur -Vishakhapatnam and back. Beechcraft 1900 D, a 19-seater aircraft is scheduled to operate on this route.