Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday launched intra-state air service named 'PM Shri Paryatan Vayu Seva' by flagging off the first flight under it from Bhopal to Jabalpur. He also gave boarding passes to the flyers and opened a ticket-booking counter.

Mohan Yadav said Madhya Pradesh is an attractive tourist destination for all kinds of travellers from across the corners. The intra-state "PM Shri Paryatan Vayu Seva" will enhance connectivity and improve the travelling experience of visitors in the entire state. Efforts are also being made to connect both Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlingas with air service to have darshan of both the Jyotirlingas in less time than Indore or Bhopal. Religious places like Orchha, Salkanpur, Katni and Datia will also be connected by air connectivity for a memorable spiritual journey.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture, Tourism, Religious Trusts and Endowments, Shri Dharmendra Singh Lodhi said the launch of the first Intra State air service in the country marks an important and unforgettable day. The service is starting to connect 8 cities of Madhya Pradesh to make Madhya Pradesh a safe and accessible tourism destination.

With this, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Rewa, Khajuraho and Singrauli cities in Madhya Pradesh will be getting connected by air, officials said. To boost the air service, a 50 per cent discount in fare has been doled out for 30 days, they said.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) will operate the air service. It is being run on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis with M/s Jet Serv Aviation Private Limited (Flyola), an official release said.

According to some flyers, the fare of the intra-state service will be little more than the tariff of Vande Bharat Express train after a 50 per cent discount for 30 days. They said that it will take just 55 minutes to reach Indore from Bhopal via the air service.

"On the basis of the response, we are going to expand the service," MPTB principal secretary and managing director Sheo Shankar Shukla told over phone. "Right now, the planes which are being run are six-seater with twin engines. If the response is good, we will go for 11-seater and then 20-seater aircraft and so on to expand the service," he added.

"These planes are very safe and meet international standards. We are going to provide the best and regular service at competitive prices," Shukla said.

along with the tourism sector, air service will also be beneficial for trade, health, education and the promotion of culture and art. The booking counters have been set up at the airports of Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur for booking air services. At present, 8 cities of the state are being connected through air service which will be expanded to some more cities in the coming time.

In the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, air service will start from Ujjain on the June 16. "PM Shri Paryatan Vayu Seva" will be operated in the state on a Public Public Partnership (PPP) basis through Jetserve Aviation Private Limited (Flyola).