Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new airport at Jharsuguda in Odisha. He said that the new airport will ensure better air connectivity to this region of the Odisha.
Till now, only one major airport was present in Odisha.
“Connectivity is at the core of all round development. Our Government has devoted significant efforts to enhance connectivity all over the nation,” he said while addressing the gathering.
The new airport has been built at a cost of Rs 210 crore with Rs 75 crore coming from the State Government. The airport has been developed for all-weather operations, including night operations for A-320 type of aircraft.
He also announced that around 950 new aircrafts are being added in the aviation sector which will boost the industry. Jharsuguda airport will serve as a cusp for connecting both Ranchi and Raipur (in Chhattisgarh).
The new airport is named after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Rai which was proposed by the Odisha Government.
The Prime Minister also inagurated the Garjanbahal open cast mine of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), which has coal block reserves of 230 million tonne with an annual production capacity of 13 million tonne.
More than 6,000 jobs will be created through this mine. He also launched the 53.1-km long Jharsuguda-Serdega railway line constructed by the MCL. The Dulanga Coal Mining Project of NTPC in Sundargarh district was also inaugurated by PM.