The iconic DAKOTA (DC-3) VT-AUI aircraft, once a favourite of Odisha’s former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and which till now was gathering dust at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI ) Airport in Kolkata, will finally find its way to Odisha.
The required process for the transportation of this aircraft has already been started.
In a letter, additional secretary to the Odisha government, Debadutta Suranjita Jena has asked the Additional DG of Police to coordinate with the West Bengal Police for safe transportation of the aircraft from the NSCBI Airport exit gate till West Bengal border and from the border to the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
As per the letter, the State government has entrusted M/S Aerospace Research & Development Centre, Bhubaneswar to dismantle, package and transport the aircraft from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar. And the service provider will also restore, reassemble and do the renovation work at the BPIA in Bhubaneswar.
In the letter, the service provider was asked to complete the dismantling work within January 10. So, it is assumed that by this time the aircraft has already been dismantled.
The dismantled aircraft will reach Odisha by road and the journey will begin on January 12. For this, the West Bengal Police will provide escort on January 12 from the NSCBI Airport exit gate to the State border from where Odisha Police will accompany it up to the BPI Airport.