Overseas Odias living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have welcomed a recent decision to resume flight services from the VSS Airport at Jharsuguda under the third phase of Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme.

The non-resident Odias (NROs) have said that the move to connect the Jharsuguda airport with six cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Raipur will definitely boost the economic development of the region, apart from providing a new impetus to tourism, trade and commerce. Educational institutions like IIM Sambalpur, VSSUT Burla and VIMSAR Burla will benefit immensely with better placements etc. Such connectivity will also be a boon for overseas Odias originating from western part of Odisha and shall cut down travel time to their home towns drastically.

The NROs stated that they would meet the senior officials of the management of the two airlines like Alliance Air and Spicejet which have bagged most of the routes and urge them to kick-start operations as soon as possible.

NROs also spoke to VSS Airport Director SK Chauhan and congratulated him on the development. According to Chauhan, Jharsuguda airport is ready to welcome these new flights. He informed that award letters to successful carriers have been issued and airlines have been told to start early operations. He expects that some of the airlines may commence operations when summer schedules of the airlines come into play.

The NROs have also resolved to step up efforts in ensuring a direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar. Currently Bhubaneswar is connected to two international destinations such as Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.