Three more destinations to get intra-state air connectivity

Bhubaneswar: Three more destinations in Odisha — Rangeilunda, Amarda and Dandbose — have been included in the tender for air connectivity from the state capital under modified regional connectivity scheme RCS-2 (Udan) after the Centre launched it on March 25.Official sources said with the Union civil aviation ministry’s support works on these three unserved airstrips are going on in full swing. The ministry is set to publicise the destination and carrier list soon. With addition of three more destinations, the north and south Odisha that remained uncovered will be covered fully as Mayurbhanj and Balasore (north) and Ganjam (south) districts are linked with air.“Airports Authority of India (AAI) will take control of the new airstrips that will soon become operational.

The AAI will reimburse the cost of the construction and other technical work once the utilisation certificate is submitted,” said a senior officer of state govt privy to the development.Existing airstrips at Jeypore, Rourkela and Utkela connected with state capital under RCS and airport at Jharsuguda complete coverage of western district by air, slightly covering parts of south-western region. The addition of three will ensure connectivity to the core of south and north Odisha, officials said.

Earlier, the defence ministry accorded permission to Odisha govt to set up airstrip on Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) land at Rasgovindpur near Amarda Road in Mayurbhanj district. It was a wartime airfield (World War II) built in 1940. It was lying unused for years. People were demanding revival of this airstrip for air connectivity to north Odisha.Trial run has been conducted at Rangeilunda airstrip and non-scheduled operation has started.

“The operational trial of Rangeilunda airstrip in Ganjam district will complete the coverage in south and south-central region of Odisha in Gajapati and Kandhamal districts,” the officer added.Last year in May, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said 15 of the 30 districts will have heliports, while a greenfield airport will come up at the port town of Paradip while discussing the augmentation of civil aviation in state.Besides the three, in another phase, the govt may urge the Centre to add more destinations like Gotama, Satibhata, Raisuan, Tusura, Jamadarpali and Malkangiri. The state currently has 19 airports/airstrips, of which 12 are state-owned. Besides, there are 13 heliports in the state.