Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched a flight service between the state capital Bhubaneswar and the tribal-dominated Kalahandi district.

The chief minister flagged off a nine-seater plane of India One Air — an Indian regional airline — from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, to the newly built Utkela airport near the Kalahandi district headquarters Bhawanipatna on Thursday. Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia joined the inaugural function through video conferencing. The flight service commenced under the Udan (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.

Naveen tweeted: “Glad to flag off first flight service between Bhubaneswar and newly inaugurated Utkela Airport in Kalahandi district. The airport has added yet another golden chapter to Odisha’s aviation sector. It will boost connectivity, commerce and tourism, fulfilling aspirations of people of the region.”

The chief minister’s office in a media release said: “Chief minister has always stressed on transforming and developing each corner of Odisha. An airport at Utkela to connect to the capital city was a much-needed aspiration of the local community to accelerate economic activity in the region.”

The release said: “Kalahandi is considered a commercial hub of Western Odisha which has seen rapid growth in its population and industry. The flight operation on this route will boost the industry and tourism sector. There was a very long demand for flight operations at Utkela and now, the air connectivity will fulfil all the dreams in every respect.”

“The presence of attractive places and tourist destinations like Manikeswari Temple, Phurli Jharan Waterfall, Rabandhara waterfall, Khariapat wildlife sanctuary etc. will attract many tourists after air connectivity at Utkela,” it added.

The flight will take off at 7.15am from Bhubaneswar and will land at Utkela at 8.25am. It will again depart from Utkela at 8.50am and arrive at Bhubaneswar at 10am. Initially, the flight service will be available twice a week — on Tuesday and Thursday.

Odisha transport and commerce minister Tukuni Sahu, who boarded the flight on Thursday, said: “The dream of the people of my area to have a flight service has
been fulfilled. Although the flight service will be available twice a week initially, steps will be taken to make it available every day of the week.”