Rs 100 crore budget for improving International air connectivity in Odisha.

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Rs 100 crore budget for improving International air connectivity in Odisha.

    The state government made a budgetary allocation of Rs 100 crore to improve international air connectivity in the state.

    The state cabinet in December had approved a proposal of operating direct flights from here to three international destinations - Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore.

   The earmarked amount is likely to be spent in the shape of viability gap funding (VGF) to boost the willingness of the operators.The amount is also likely to be spent for creation of new infrastructure and cost to be borne for reducing VAT on air turbine fuel (ATF).

     The budget's attractive component in an effort to boost civil aviation is to construct a green field Shri Jagannath International airport in Puri and budgetary allocation of Rs 275 crore for transformation of Biju Patnaik Aerospace Academy at Barisal into world-class pilot training facility.Besides, the budget has provision to renovate and carry out expansion of eight state-owned airstrips.

    The Odisha Civil Aviation Policy,2022, is meant to improve air connectivity and unlock the potential in the sector and create job opportunities.I sincerely thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending the services of affordable connectivity to Odisha under UDAN scheme,"finance minister Nirajan Pujari said in the budget speech.

    The state's five year civil aviation policy aims to set up two cargo hubs that have been formulated to attract investments and create employment platforms.A maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit for aircraft is also planned under the policy.

   Pujari said, "Our government has taken a path-breaking step to connect Odisha to international destinations like Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok.The connectivity to Dubai will open Odisha to west Asia, Europe and connectivity to Singapore and Bangkok will open Odisha to Southeast and far-east Asia," he said.