Bhubaneswar: To the disappointment of the residents of Odisha’s Rourkela, the flight service between the Steel City and Kolkata could not be commenced from today (September 1).

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier announced September 1 as the date for commencement of flight service between Rourkela and Kolkata.

However, the ministry has not cited any reason for delay in the commencement of flight service on Rourkela-Kolkata route, sources said.

Sources, meanwhile, claimed that the flight service on the route will start on September 11.

“The Alliance Air has made the necessary arrangement for advance booking for tickets through its website,” said a source.

Earlier, it was announced that the Alliance Air would cater to the Rourkela-Kolakata route via Bhubaneswar from September 1.

An ATR-72 aircraft of Alliance Air was supposed to operate between Rourkela and Kolkata via Bhubaneswar for three days in a week.

For the remaining four days, the aircraft would land at Rourkela on its way from Kolkata to Odisha capital, sources said.