Bhubaneswar: Ahead of inauguration of state’s second airport at Jharsuguda by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday reiterated his demand before the Centre to name the airport after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.
In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, Naveen said, “I would like to reiterate the request that Government of India may consider naming the Jharsuguda Airport as ‘Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda’ which would be a befitting tribute to the legendary son of soil.” Expressing happiness over the scheduled flagging off of UDAN (Ude Desh Ki Aam Nagarik) flight by the PM September 22 next, he said, “Keeping in view the growing importance of this city in western Odisha, I would request you to kindly consider introduction of commercial flights to Jharsuguda. To begin with, one of Air India flights from Bhubaneswar to Delhi may be routed through Jharsuguda.”
The CM also thanked the PM for his invitation to grace the occasion and said he accepted the invitation. Naveen reiterated his demand despite Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha had recently stated that such proposals should be supported by a resolution in the state Assembly.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha in July last, Sinha stated that naming/renaming of airports are considered based on the recommendations of the concerned state government, supported by a resolution passed in the state legislative assembly. The Assembly has never passed any resolution in this regard.