During the launching of Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur air service on Monday,
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday flagged off the Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur flight and sought to start international air service from the Swami Vivekananda Airport here and an international cargo hub.
He was addressing the virtual flagging off the service from the Bilasa Devi Kenwat Airport, Bilaspur, from here and by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from New Delhi.
Congratulating the people of Bilaspur and Indore, Baghel said Bilaspur should also be linked by air to big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru.
He urged the Union Minister to start air service for cities like Varanasi, Ranchi, Patna and Bhubaneshwar and connecting Ambikapur to Bilaspur, Raipur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
Raising the demand for international flights and a cargo hub in Raipur, Baghel said the airport was ready to handle international flights as the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has been handed over 461.20 acres of land free of cost.
Security related problems and other issues have been resolved.
Scindia said the Central government was ready to provide all possible help to expand the aviation services in Chhattisgarh.
He said the demand for night landing facility at Bilaspur airport is justified and additional land would be required to expand its runway.
Baghel said 1,000 acres of land adjoining the Chakarbhata airport is under the Army's possession. Due to non-utilization, the state government is trying to take back the land. The land will be made available to widen Chakarbhata airport.