Bhubaneswar, 12 June (H.S.): Marking the first anniversary of the BJP-led Odisha government, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the first direct international flight from Bhubaneswar to Abu Dhabi at the Biju Patnaik International Airport today. Operated by IndiGo Airlines, the new service offers seamless travel between the two cities in just four hours.

The flight will operate three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—and can accommodate up to 180 passengers per trip. The initiative is expected to save time and reduce travel costs for the Odia diaspora working in the Middle East.

On the same occasion, the Chief Minister also flagged off a new domestic flight connecting Bhubaneswar with Visakhapatnam. He personally handed boarding passes to several passengers as a symbolic gesture.

Speaking at the launch event, CM Majhi said the new air route is a significant step under the state’s New Destination Policy, supported by the Central Government and guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that the service would strengthen Odisha’s ties with the Middle East, especially in trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange.

Notably, the inaugural cargo of the Abu Dhabi flight included 50 tonnes of Amrapali mangoes, showcasing the state’s agricultural potential and export readiness.

The Chief Minister also reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving connectivity across all modes of transportation—road, rail, and air. He highlighted newly launched air routes from Bhubaneswar to Dehradun, Ghaziabad, Goa, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, and Port Blair, along with flights from Jharsuguda to Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Raipur.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda