Union minister for civil aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday gave a nod to commence international air services from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur soon and steps will be initiated to develop a cargo hub at Raipur airport.
The announcement was made when Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai met union civil aviation minister Naidu at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in New Delhi. The meeting focused on enhancing air connectivity in the state and developing regional airports. The union minister gave his nod to commence international air services from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur at the earliest.
In addition, steps will be initiated to develop a cargo hub at Raipur Airport. Consent has been received to initiate air services connecting Raipur Airport with Patna and Ranchi.
Chief minister Sai requested granting international airport status to Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, adding that Chhattisgarh holds significant potential for international air services.
Sai stated that this move would boost the state’s economic development and enhance global connectivity. Considering the growing international passenger traffic in Chhattisgarh, CM Sai discussed the need for direct flights from Raipur to Singapore and Dubai, noting that these routes have substantial passenger demand and would be commercially viable.
The union aviation minister agreed to the proposal to commence international air services from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur at the earliest.
Sai also pointed out the absence of a major cargo facility center in the state and proposed transforming Raipur Airport into a central cargo hub.
He stated that this development would boost the transportation of agricultural and horticultural products. The union minister assured prompt action on the proposal.
During the meeting, a proposal was made to upgrade Bilaspur Airport to the 3C IFR category. CM Sai urged the swift completion of the installation process for the Radio Navigation System DVOR to address this requirement. In response, the union minister directed officials to expedite the process, considering the challenges currently faced in night landings at Bilaspur Airport.
The CM also called for the introduction of new flights connecting Ambikapur Airport with major cities, including Raipur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. He added that such services would significantly benefit the region, given its cultural and mineral wealth.
During the meeting, the chief minister also requested the restoration of financial assistance for RCS flights at Jagdalpur and Bilaspur airports, stating that enhanced connectivity on these routes would support regional development.
He mentioned that an Airlines flight service between Jagdalpur and Raipur was discontinued due to low passenger numbers.