Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav launched PM Shri Tourism Air Service and PM Shri Religious Tourism Heli Service on Thursday. Addressing the gathering at the launching ceremony at the State hangar, Dr Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is now well connected state. The State Government is now providing the air facility to help people reach religious places by air. Expanding air service to boost religious tourism is one of top priorities. Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that Narmada originating from Amarkantak is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh as well as Gujarat. With an extension of air services, it will make religious journeys easier. Efforts to build airstrips in all districts and expand interstate air service are on. CM said that after the air service from Indore to Mahakaleshwar and Mamleshwar (Omkareshwar), helicopter service will be started for Datia, Maihar, Orchha etc.. Efforts will be made to expand air facilities to all the major religious places within state. There is also a plan to expand air service to other places important from tourism point of view like Kanha, Bandhavgarh. Arrangements will be made to visit the existing pilgrimage sites linking the schemes of the State Government for religious pilgrimage.

 

He announced the launch of both the schemes. He launched both the schemes virtually and flagged off two planes and a helicopter. He said that Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Minister of State Gautam Tetwal, Naresh Shivaji Patel and Dr Pratima Bagri are visiting Indore. Similarly, Minister Rakesh Singh, Sampatiya Uike and Dharmendra Lodhi are leaving for Jabalpur. Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, Ministers Andal Singh Kansana, Narayan Singh Kushwaha and Pradyuman Tomar left for the service, which is starting for Gwalior. Tourism, Culture, Endowments and Religious Trusts Minister Dharmendra Lodhi said that with the inspiration of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Madhya Pradesh is getting ‘PM Shri Tourism Air Service’ and ‘PM Shri Religious Tourism Heli Service’. This will give boost tourism. Two twin engine aircrafts are being operated, in which air travel will be very safe. At affordable rates, tourists, devotees or common citizens will be able to visit from one city to another. Through air service, remote areas of the state will be added to the tourism map, which will new employment opportunities will be created. An MoU was signed between the Tourism Board and Jet Air Service (Flyola) organisation for the operation of PM Shri Tourism Air Service.

 

Additional Managing Director of Tourism Board Vivek Shrotriya and Managing Director of the organisation M. Ram Ola exchanged views in the presence of the CM. CM provided Letters of Acknowledgement (LoA) for the operation of Jhabua, Khargone and Mandla airstrips. Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla informed that a contract has been signed with the organisation Flyola for the smooth operation of PM Shri Tourism Air Service. According to the contract, the operator organisation will have to carry out works like selection of flight route, establishment of ticket counter, local staff selection and training etc. within two months. After this, regular operation of services will be started. Two 8-seater twin engine aircraft will be operated, which will connect the major airports of the state, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhopal, Khajuraho as well as other smaller airports.