Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) on Friday inked an Operation and Management (O&M) agreement with the goal of facilitating commercial operations at Rourkela Airport in Odisha under the RCS UDAN initiative.
SAIL inked an MoU in 2018 to use its own airport for the operation of commercial flights under the UDAN program. In order to enable the start of commercial flights from Rourkela, SAIL has now inked the O&M contract with AAI through its Rourkela Steel Plant.
The upgrading of this airport has received financial help from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In addition to assisting with other local approvals, the government of Odisha will supply the security, fire, and ambulance services.
For SAIL-Rourkela Steel Plant, AAI will manage and operate the airport. All flight travellers from the industrial town of Rourkela and the neighbouring areas will find relief at the airport.
The start of air service is crucial in light of the next Hockey World Cup, as Rourkela will host 20 of the tournament’s 44 games in January 2023. During the time of this international event, Rourkela will see a significant increase in visitors, making air connectivity to the city a logistical need.
