nThe hope for direct flights from Jharsuguda to metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore has brightened with the Home Department willing to deploy 19 firemen after Health Minister Naba Kishore Das urged for the same.
The Home Department now has given green signal to depute 19 firemen to the VSS Airport.
The flight services from VSS Airport, Jharsuguda to Bengaluru and Mumbai could not be started due to want of requisite firemen at the airport.
On December 9, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das had written to the State Chief Secretary to deploy 19 more firemen to the airport after which on December 11, Additional Secretary of the Home Department MK Swain in his letter No.39786 had directed the concerned department to deploy 19 firemen immediately.
Meanwhile, the residents of Jharsuguda district and western Odisha are very much satisfied with the move and welcomed the proactive attitude of the Government towards the people of western Odisha.
At present, only ATR-72 flights are operating from Jharsuguda airport to different places. For operation of Air Bus A-320 to different places like Mumbai and Bengaluru , a total 42 firemen will be required. But, at present 23 firemen are available at Jharsuguda airport. After , the rest 19 firemen join, flight services to Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected soon.