Bhubaneswar: Jharsuguda airstrip will be made operational for regional connectivity services (RCS) under UDAN scheme by October, 2017.
The state government’s announcement came Tuesday shortly after a State Level Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the Secretariat.
A target was also set to develop Jharsuguda airstrip as a full-fledged airport by April, 2018 on the basis of the agreement signed with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) earlier.
The chief secretary also directed the officials to expedite the work on the development of airstrips at Jeypore and Utkela and make the UDAN flights ready within five months.
Officials of General Administration Department who attended the meeting said that five airstrips of the state were selected for UDAN scheme. These were: Bhubaneswar airport, airstrips at Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Utkela (Kalahandi) and Jeypore (Koraput). From among these, Biju Pattanaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, would serve as mentor airport.
Jharsuguda airport would be developed under the joint aegis of AAI and the state government. Both the state government and AAI have requested the authorities of Rourkela Steel Plant to make Rourkela airstrip ready for UDAN, they said, adding, the other airstrips at Jeypore and Utkela would be developed with funding from both the state government and AAI.
This apart, they said, the Orissa government would also provide the manpower for management of Jeypore and Utkela airports and the electricity and water would be provided at minimum rates.
Bhubaneswar to Utkela, Utklela to Raipur, Bhubaneswar to Jeypore, Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda to Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar to Rourkela have been suggested for regional connectivity, officials said.
Since the state government has announced manpower and financial support, the regional connectivity scheme should become viable. Moreover, it has decided to reduce VAT from 5 per cent to 1 per cent and provide 20 per cent of the Viable Gap Funding to promote this service.
The state government has decided to provide these subsidies and financial assistance for regional air connectivity as part of its ‘Make in Orissa’ initiative. Officials said that the state government will also provide land, security and fire services. Around 44 security personnel and nine fire service personnel will be deployed at each airport.
“Such subsidies and financial assistance will keep the ticket cost at affordable level,” an official said, adding, “the average price of a ticket to be paid by the passengers for these flights would be around Rs 2,500.”
Post News Network
