Dharmendra Pradhan Urges Centre For Jharsuguda-Mumbai Direct Flight

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought the personal intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for introduction of a direct flight between Jharsuguda and Mumbai.

“There is a strong demand from commuters for a direct flight between Jharsuguda and Mumbai,” Pradhan wrote in a letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister.

“I also request you to facilitate the availability of slots to the airlines from Mumbai to Jharsuguda which is the main concern for airlines to start the air service,” he added.

The Union Minister said that Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme truly gave wings to the dreams and aspirations of the common man and Odisha reaped the benefits of the visionary mission with the launch of Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda.

He said the direct flight operations earlier launched by SpiceJet from Jharsuguda airport to New Delhi and Hyderabad have been a great commercial success. However, there is a lack of direct air connectivity between western Odisha and India's commercial capital, Mumbai, he added.

“Keeping in mind the benefit of the people of western part of Odisha, I request your personal intervention in commencement of a direct flight between Jharsuguda and Mumbai at the earliest,” Pradhan added.