Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On August 31, a new flight service will begin operating between Bhubaneswar, the state capital, and Utkela Airport in the Kalahandi region of Odisha. On August 7, 2023, the Utkela Airport received the necessary authorization from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, said on his X account that the flights out of the Utkela Airport will increase connection, trade, and tourism while also achieving locals’ hopes.
The Chief Minister wrote on his X handle, “Glad to share that #UtkelaAirport in #Kalahandi district has received DGCA license to start flight operations. Soon flight operations will commence to #Bhubaneswar. It will boost connectivity, commerce & tourism, fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the region”.
IndiaOne flight would reportedly offer flight service between Kalahandi’s Utkela Airport and Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), with plans to eventually expand to Raipur in Chhattisgarh. For the Utkela Airport’s site purchase, runway construction, and terminal development, the state government has invested over Rs 162 crore.
