March 06: Under the Centre’s UDAN scheme, Air India’s subsidiary, Alliance Air has launched its flight services in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur town connecting it with Delhi via Jabalpur and Prayagraj.
Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh Bhupesh Baghel launched the flight service virtually by giving a water cannon salute at Bilasa Devi Kevat Airport, Bilaspur that is located as much as 125 km away from Raipur, the capital.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who graced the function with his virtual presence said that till now 54 airports have been reformed and another 311 routes for air service have turned functional under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
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Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel requested the union minister to begin an international flight from Raipur airport mentioning that there has been an increase in the number of people wanting to travel abroad from the state. He said that the Raipur airport has been reformed to accommodate international flight services.
He further informed that the scheme has the aim of upgrading 100 airports and create 1,000 functional routes under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). The minister added that the air services in Chhatisgarh’s Bilaspur will help boost tourism and trade of the region as they would connect the region to the metropolitan city giving citizens access to many facilities.
The officials stated that the first flight on Monday reached Bilaspur at 3:20 pm from Delhi via the given route. The flight returned to the national capital at around 3:45 pm via the given route.
