ROURKELA: The wait for restoration of commercial flight service from the ready to use Rourkela airport run by RSP under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN continues to lengthen. Blame it on the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and its Airport Authority of India (AAI) for their snail’s pace to address technicalities. After resumption of regular flight services from the adjacent VSS airport at Jharsuguda on Sunday, all eyes are now on Rourkela.
Sources in RSP said the successful bidder for RCS for the Rourkela route does not have own aircraft and it is in the process of organising flights operation from May-end. The RSP has met all commitments and the ball is in the court of the AAI and flight operator, they added.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in first week of January had replaced the private licence of Rourkela airport with commercial licence to pave way for commercial use of the airport.After the MoCA tweeted about granting of licence by DGCA to Rourkela airport on January 7, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in his tweet said, “Thanks Shri @sureshpprabhu ji & the #DGCA for issuing a licence for the third airport at the steel city of Rourkela in Odisha.
An airport in the industrial capital of #Odisha will enhance connectivity and benefit both passengers as well as industries surrounding Rourkela.”In a parallel development, the AAI has recently deployed its personnel for airport and terminal management, and air traffic control. Sources said success potential of regular flights on Rourkela route is under scanner with the bidder lacking its own aircraft. Apprehension remains as the Air Odisha Aviation Pvt Ltd (now blacklisted by AAI) also did not have its own aircraft and due to its erratic ways, it failed on the Rourkela route in recent years.
Rourkela Steel Plant Executives’ Association president and Steel Executives’ Federation of India general secretary Bimal Bisi said potential of Rourkela airport is huge. He said for regular flier like him, resumption of commercial flight at Rourkela would be a great relief. The MoCA and AAI should ensure no further delay in this regard, he added.BJP insiders said had the flight operation started before second round of poll on April 18, it would have benefited Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram who has been pursuing the issue for long.
Timeline
January 7, 2019:
Licence granted to Rourkela airport by DGCA
April 2018:
SAIL signed an MoU with AAI for introduction of commercial flights from city airport
September 2017:
AAI nod to State’s proposal
March 2016:
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated fuelling station at airport