Question : Flight Connectivity from Bhubaneswar

(a) whether the Government proposes to provide direct international flight from B.P.I. Airport, Bhubaneswar to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Singapore and other South East Asian countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to issue a No Objection Certificate to Rasagovindpur Air strip in Mayurbhanj for its future development for civilian use under RCS-UDAN, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is considering to introduce more routes in Odisha through RCS-UDAN, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is considering to include additional routes from Veer Surendra Sai (VSS) Airport, Jharsuguda and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a): Bhubaneswar is already included in the list of 18 destinations from where the Indian carriers and carriers of 5 SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka) and 10 ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos) can operate unlimited frequencies subject to availability of slots at the airport. The Government provides an enabling environment for growth of civil aviation sector but does not interfere in the operational plans of the airlines. Airlines are free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate within the ambit of bilateral agreements. The airlines provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability.;;

(b) & (c): Rasgovindpur airstrip is included in the UDAN scheme document and routes connecting Rasgovindpur to Bhubaneswar have been offered in the UDAN bidding round 4.1. Airfields of Odisha included in the UDAN Scheme are Rourkela, Amarda Road, Angul, Barbil, Birasal, Gudari, Hirakund, Jayakpur, Jeypore, Lanjigarh, Nawapara, Padampur, Rairangpur, Raisuan, Rangeilunda, Sukinda, Theruboli, Tushra, Utkela. After four rounds of biding, AAI, the implementing agency has awarded RCS routes connecting Bhubaneshwar, Jharsuguda and Rourkela in Odisha. ;
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(d): Jharsuguda has become a served airport after operationalization of routes connecting Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Airlines may consider the commencement of further additional routes based on their commercial viability.