Introduce Bhubaneswar-Surat direct flights, Odisha CM urges Union Min

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu for introduction of direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat.

In a letter to the Union Minister, Patnaik said lakhs of Odia families have settled in Surat and are engaged in the textile sector there. However, presently there is no direct air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat, the CM wrote in the letter.

“During the hours of urgent necessity, Odia people living in Surat face untold difficulties in reaching Odisha in time. Besides, people from both the cities visit places of tourist interest in and around the cities every year. Air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat can give rise to tourist inflow to both the places,” Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister requested Prabhu to impress upon Air India and other private airlines to introduce direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat at the earliest.