Flight services to resume at Jharsuguda Airport from Jan 2019

New Delhi: Here’s good news for western Odisha air passengers, the flight operations under UDAN scheme will resume at Jharsuguda Airport from the first week of January 2019.

The move came after discussion with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Civil Aviation secretary.

Recently, the Jharsuguda Airport, which has been renamed as the Veer Surendra Sai Airport (VSSA), was in international media troll for non-operation of flights following its inauguration by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22.

In an article titled “Even the sweepers can afford to fly’: India opens 34 airports in 18 months as aviation market booms” and posted on November 5, the Washington Post satirised over non-functioning of the Jharsuguda Airport, Odisha’s second major airport under Udega Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme.

The NROs living the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also stepped up their efforts meeting Patnaik and presenting a memorandum in this regard last month.

Worth mentioning, Odisha has been urging the Centre to resume flight services from the VSSA.

Even several leaders cutting across the party lines had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue.

Notably, the Jharsuguda Airport was flagged off by Prime Minister Modi on September 22. Built in an investment of Rs 210 crore, the airport was expected to play a major role in development in sectors of Odisha Tourism and hotel industries.