Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 21 Aug 2021

New Flights Launched

Why in News

• On August 20, 2021, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched new IndiGo flights from Jabalpur to Delhi, Indore and Mumbai through video conference with Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Key Points

• Air service from Jabalpur to Mumbai and Delhi started from 20th August and air facility will be available from Jabalpur to Hyderabad and Indore from 28th August. Similarly, airlines will also start from Indore to Mumbai and Jabalpur from August 28.
• During this, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requested Union Minister Scindia to name the Jabalpur airport after 'Rani Durgavati'.
• Sometime back 424 flights per week were operating from different places of Madhya Pradesh, which has now increased to 588 per week
• With the increase in air connectivity in Jabalpur, industrial and economic development of the area will happen and tourists will also get facilities. For the expansion of Jabalpur airport, the state government has transferred more than 730 acres of land.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that a plan of Rs 421 crore has been approved for the expansion of the airport in Jabalpur. Terminal building construction, ATC tower and runway length extension will be completed by December 2022.
• It is worth mentioning that the UDAN plan has plans to introduce 1000 air routes and establish one hundred airports by 2025, out of which 363 routes and 59 airports have been established.

Award for Best Wildlife and Eco Tourism and Best Tourism Marketing Campaign

Why in News

• Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been awarded as the Best Wildlife and Ecotourism State and Best State for Tourism Marketing Campaign at the 7^th edition of ITCTA B2B International Tourism Expo & Conclave, 2021 held at Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi on August 20, 2021

Key Points

• In the award ceremony, Chief Guest Principal Secretary Tourism and Public Relations Shiv Shekhar Shukla presented the awards and started the function with the ceremonial lamp.
• The award for Best Wildlife and Ecotourism was received by Deputy Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Yuvraj Padole and the award for Best Tourism Marketing Campaign was received by Deepika Roy Choudhury, Deputy Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
• It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh is full of rich wildlife. It has a forest area of 77 ,700 square kilometer, with 11 national parks and 24 wildlife sanctuaries with many wildlife hotspots.
• Madhya Pradesh has recently got the status of 'The Leopard State' and 'Gharial State' along with 'Tiger State', which reflects the efforts of wildlife conservation.
• To actively promote state tourism, the tourism department has organized various promotional programs like Orchha Cultural Festival, Mandu Festival, Jal Mahotsav, Go Heritage Run, Cycle Safari and Elephant Safari. It has also organized social media campaigns like Buffer Mein Safar, Intezaar Aapka, Intezaar Khatm hua, Monsoon Magic, Sab Kuch Jo Dil Chahhe etc.
• In this event, Yuvraj Padole also gave a brief presentation on tourism attractions of Madhya Pradesh and initiatives like wildlife safaris, adventure activities, water sports, responsible tourism, wellness and mindful tourism etc.