nUnder the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN Bilaspur city will be linked with flight services from March 1 to New Delhi, Jabalpur and Prayagraj.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on February 4 had called on union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri at New Delhi urging him to connect Bilaspur to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata through air services. Union minister had assured to commence Air India flight service. Later, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s Raipur visit, he announced before the media to begin the flight services from March 1, states an official communication.
It is intimated that from Bilaspur to New Delhi ATR 72 aircraft on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday will be operational. The first flight (1520-1545) from New Delhi will have a stopover at Jabalpur and reach Bilaspur at 3.20 pm. The flight from Bilaspur will take off at 3.45 pm for Prayagraj and to New Delhi.
The second flight (1600-1630) from Delhi will touch down at Prayagraj and reach Bilaspur at 4.00 pm. It will return from Bilaspur at 4.30 pm to Jabalpur to reach New Delhi. Alliance Air, will operate the services for Air India.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel during the meeting at Delhi had requested the Union Civil Aviation minister for developing Raipur as a cargo hub. The Union Minister had assured to send the Airport Authority of India chairman for inspection of the site. The other request made was for commencement of flight services from Ambikapur Airport and linking Jagdalpur Airport with metro-cities through flight services. Union minister had given positive assurance by taking initiatives.
Thanking the union minister for commencement of flight services from Bilaspur to Delhi, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said it would trigger economic activities and industrial progress of the region. People of the division can avail better connectivity at cheaper rates. State government had sanctioned `45 crore for development of Bilaspur Airport out of which `21 crores have been spent.
Bilaspur is the second most populous city of the state and houses the Chhattisgarh High Court. It also serves as the headquarters of India’s largest coal producing company South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) and the South East Central Railway (SECR).