Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the Utkela airport in Odisha on Thursday. Developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme, the airport has been established at a cost of Rs 31.07 crore. The new Utkela-Bhubaneswar-Utkela flight route is set to enhance regional air connectivity, playing a crucial role in promoting economic growth in the area.

Commencing from Thursday, flights on this route will be operated by IndiaOne, utilizing 9-seater Cessna C-208 aircraft as part of the UDAN scheme. The Utkela airport boasts a 917-meter (2,995 ft.) runway with a width of 30 meters.

With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha now boasts five airports. Scindia highlighted that the new Utkela-Bhubaneswar air connectivity will significantly reduce travel time from the existing nearly 8-hour road journey, making it possible to cover the distance in just one hour and twenty minutes.

This development is anticipated to bring a fresh start to the Kalahandi region, stimulating economic activities and creating diverse employment opportunities. The collaboration between the central government and the Odisha government in enhancing civil aviation infrastructure was also emphasized by Scindia.

Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, General Dr. V K Singh (Retd), noted that the Central government invested around Rs 31 crore in the redevelopment of the Utkela airport. He emphasized that the improved connectivity between Kalahandi and Bhubaneswar, along with other cities in the state, would accelerate development and contribute to regional growth.