Bilaspur-Indore Flight Launched

• 04 Oct 2022

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia virtual launched the Bilaspur-Indore airline.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Baghel flagged off the flight from his residence office in the capital Raipur and Union Minister Scindia from New Delhi flagged off the flight from Bilasa Devi Kenwat Airport, Chakarbhata Bilaspur.
• Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur Air Service will leave Bilaspur at 11.35 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, four days a week, to reach Indore at 1.25 p.m. and depart Indore at 1.55 p.m. and return to Bilaspur at 3.45 p.m.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start international air service from Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur and establish an international cargo hub here, saying that Raipur airport has been prepared according to international standards. Raipur airport is now ready to operate international flights.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start international air service from Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur and establish an international cargo hub here, saying that Raipur airport has been prepared according to international standards. Raipur airport is now ready to operate international flights.
• The Chief Minister said that 461.20 acres of land has been provided free of cost by the State Government to the Airport Authority of India for Raipur Airport. On which runway expansion, new terminal building construction, ATC tower construction and it has been prepared according to international standard. The pending demand of land for airport development, security related problems of airport complex have been resolved by the state government.
• Chief Minister Baghel also urged the Union Minister Scindia to start air service for cities like Varanasi, Ranchi, Patna, Bhubaneshwar connecting Ambikapur to Bilaspur, Raipur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
• Giving information about the efforts made by the state government for the expansion of Bilaspur airport, Chief Minister Baghel said that the Bilaspur airport has been upgraded to 3-C VFR category by the state government.
• Alliance Air Company started the first regular domestic air service from Bilaspur to Delhi-Jabalpur-Bilaspur-Prayagraj on 1st March 2021 and regular air service from Bilaspur to Bhopal was also started from 5th June 2022.
• Approval is being issued for works costing Rs 22 crore to prepare Bilaspur airport as per 3-C IFR standard and to develop night landing facility here. For the installation of PBN navigation system for smooth operation of aircraft from the airport, the amount has been paid by the state government to Indian airports.
• To develop Ambikapur airport as per 3-C VFR category, administrative approval has been issued for Rs 48.00 crore for runway development and expansion, city side development works. The target is to develop the airport and apply for its licensing by December 31, 2022.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that both the cities of Bilaspur and Indore are of great economic and religious importance, connecting these two cities with air connectivity will provide a good facility to the people of both the cities.