Name Jharsuguda Airport after Veer Surendra Sai, Odisha CM urges Prabhu

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu urging the latter to name Jharsuguda Airport after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.

Stating that naming the airport after Surendra Sai would be a befitting tribute to the legendary son of the soil, Patnaik mentioned in the letter that he is glad that the development of Jharsuguda Airport has been completed and it will be formally inaugurated and dedicated to the nation on September 22.

The CM also requested the Union Minister to consider introduction of commercial flights to Jharsuguda as it is located strategically in an industrial and mining belt of Odisha.

“To begin with, one of Air India flights from Bhubaneswar to Delhi may be routed through Jharsuguda,” Patnaik suggested in the letter.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry in July had denied naming the airport after the freedom fighter stating that there was no resolution from the state Assembly.

It had said that as a general practice requests for naming/renaming of airports are considered based on the recommendations of the concerned state supported by a resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Jharsuguda airport on September 22.