Odisha
December 25, 2021

The Odisha Government has initiated the process to bring back the iconic aircraft of Biju Patnaik. Reportedly, the aircraft is lying in a neglected condition at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata.
According to the official reports, the State Transport and Commerce Department has drifted tender or Request For Proposal (RFP) for the shifting of old Dakota (DC-3) Aircraft from NSCBI Airport to Bhubaneswar.
OSD Chief Engineer (Buildings) in a letter to the Additional Secretary (Technical) of the Odisha Works Department stated that the Government of Odisha, Commerce & Transport Department is looking for experience qualified firms to provide the service for disassemble, transportation, assembly, restoration and interior/exterior renovation of an old Dakota aircraft.
The Dakota aircraft, which belonged to the erstwhile Kalinga Airlines owned by Patnaik, will be displayed as a museum object in Bhubaneswar after necessary restoration and renovation to commemorate the legacy and legendary heroics of Patnaik, read the letter. Biju Patnaik had used the aircraft to rescue the former Indonesia President and then Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir from the Dutch military back in 1947.
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