New chapter of development begins in Bastar: CM
   Date :22-Sep-2020

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 Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union MoS Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri during inauguration of Raipur-Jagdalpur-Hyderabad air services.
 
 
The Hitavada State Bureau :
 
Jagdalpur/Raipur,
 
e-inauguration of regular flights from Jagdalpur to Raipur and Hyderabad 
 
Inauguration of air services from Jagdalpur has unleashed major opportunities and possibilities for development of Bastar Division, said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel while carrying out e-inauguration of 72-seat regular flight service from Jagdalpur to Raipur and Hyderabad on Monday. The Chief Minister said now people of Bastar would be able to avail the regular flights from Jagdalpur based Maa Danteshwari Airport to Raipur and Hyderabad.
 
Ministers, MPs, Parliamentary Secretary, MLAs and public representatives from Bastar region along with senior administrative officials attended the inaugural programme through video conferencing. The Chief Minister gave a brief account of the efforts made to connect Bastar through air services. He said that the State Government has been making consistent efforts to benefit the people of Bastar with air travel services. The State Government successfully received permission for flight services from DGCA New Delhi on March 02, 2020, as a result of which Alliance Air Bastar (Associate company of Air India) has started flight services from Jagdalpur today.
 
On the occasion, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri said at the virtual inauguration programme that commencement of air travel services will promote tourism and development in Bastar. He said that Bastar art and culture has its unique identity. On the occasion, MoS Puri gave detailed information about the action plan for expansion of Raipur airport, and efforts being made to develop Jagdalpur and Ambikapur airport under Udaan Yojana. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel further said in his address that the inauguration of air services from Jagdalpur will also unleash a plethora of employment opportunities for people of Bastar. It will lead to extensive growth and expansion in employment-oriented sectors such as business, education, medical science, tourism, banking and telecom sector in Bastar Division.
 
Centre and State Government officials will be able to travel quickly to Bastar under special circumstances.The Chief Minister also inaugurated the ‘Aamcho Bastar Canteen’ on the occasion. He said youths in Bastar will be able to avail higher education facilities while businessmen will be largely benefited by the flight services. Art, culture, sports, theatre and other cultural events can be successfully organised now as celebrities will be able to reach Bastar conveniently.The Air Traffic Control at Jagdalpur Airport will be operated by the Airport Authority of India. Presently 72-seater aircraft are being used for flight to Raipur and Hyderabad. The aircraft will take-off from Hyderabad at 9am and reach Raipur at 12 Noon via Jagdalpur. The aircraft will fly from Raipur at 12.30pm and reach Jagdalpur at 1.35pm. Thereafter it will take-off at 2.05pm and reach Hyderabad at 3.40pm. The charges will be Rs 1,270 per person from Jagdalpur to Raipur and Rs 1,405 from Hyderabad to Jagdalpur.