IN a bid to enhance regional connectivity and promote economic development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has penned a letter to the Civil Aviation Minister, Government of India, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, urging him to take immediate action to include Bilaspur city in the UDAN-5 scheme. Citing disappointment and anger prevailing among the people of Bilaspur, the Chief Minister highlighted that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had excluded Bilaspur city from the UDAN-5 scheme.

 

Baghel stressed the significance of Bilaspur as the second most important city in the State and emphasised the necessity of regular air service, especially with the presence of the State’s High Court in Bilaspur. The letter also outlined the efforts made by the State Government, indicating that Rs 45 crore had been allocated from the state budget to facilitate the establishment of necessary infrastructure, including a terminal building, runway expansion, and security equipment, in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

 

Earlier, with the persistent endeavors of the State Government, Bilaspur successfully secured air connectivity with flights operating to and from Jabalpur, New Delhi, Prayagraj, and Indore. However, for undisclosed reasons, the flight service to Indore was halted, leading to dissatisfaction among the residents. In his appeal to Civil Aviation Minister Scindia, Chief Minister Baghel emphasized the urgent need to include Bilaspur city in the UDAN-5 scheme, providing the people of the region with seamless travel options to various parts of the country. He stressed that this inclusion would not only benefit the local populace but also contribute to the economic growth of the region.