Jharsuguda: Low-cost airline carrier SpiceJet resumed its direct flight services from Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda with the arrival of two planes under Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme Sunday afternoon.
On the first day, flight services resumed to New Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad. The two planes were welcomed with the water canon salute at the airport.
The first flight (189-seater) took off from Delhi at 1:15PM and reached Jharsuguda at 3:10Pm. Then, the same flight departed from Jharsuguda airport at 3:40PM and reached New Delhi at 5:35Pm. Similarly, the second flight departed for Hyderabad. Official sources said the last flight is scheduled to depart for Kolkata from Jharsuguda at 8:40 PM.
The airport has a handling capacity of 300 passengers and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Septembe 22 last year. Earlier, a team of SpiceJet had visited Jharsuguda airport February 9 and conducted a detailed review of the infrastructure and other security-related aspects.
“It is a historic day for everybody as a lot of efforts was made in this regard. A first major commercial flight will land at the airport and start services from Jharsuguda airport,” said Jharsuguda airport director, SK Chauhan.
Bapi Mahanta, a local resident said that once the flight operations resume the people of Western Odisha will be benefited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Jharsuguda airport September 22, 2018, but the flight services were stopped after Union Civil Aviation Ministry cancelled the license of Air Odisha which was operating the services from Jharsuguda to Raipur on the charges of irregularities in November last year.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said, “Jharsuguda with it’s proximity to Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh which are rich in forest resources can be a great breeding ground to develop biofuels to power aeroplanes. Investing in developing alternate fuels to power our aeroplanes at Jharsuguda will pave the way for a new paradigm in the economic development of Odisha. It will also benefit adivasis, tribals & forest dwellers residing in the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh & Jharkhand.”
PNN
