The Odisha government has approved a fresh set of air connectivity measures, clearing 10 new flight routes to strengthen links between key cities and improve access to regional hubs such as Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Tuesday (21 April). The proposed routes are expected to be operated by Star Air using smaller aircraft, with a focus on destinations including Tirupati, Surat, Bhopal, and Shirdi.
Officials indicated that the expanded network will connect Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda to cities such as Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Ujjain, alongside important religious and commercial centres.
In parallel, the government is moving ahead with upgrades to several airstrips, including those at Satibhata, Jamadarpalli, Raisuan, Amarda Road and Gotma.
These developments fall under the recently approved B-MAAN (Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network) scheme for 2025-30, which carries a total outlay of Rs 4,182 crore. More than Rs 500 crore has already been earmarked for airstrip development.
Efforts are also underway to improve connectivity in underserved districts through the construction of heliports in areas such as Nabarangpur and Phulbani, as well as at Taratarini. Expansion projects at existing airports in Jeypore and Tusura form part of the same strategy.
The committee further resolved to engage with the Centre to accelerate work on the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri, while pushing for quicker expansion of airports at Jharsuguda and Rourkela.
Additional proposals include revising the Odisha Civil Aviation Policy 2022 and reducing VAT on aviation fuel to encourage airline operations.