Kolkata: The iconic Dakota plane of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik is all set to start its journey from the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport to Biju Patnaik International airport in Bhubaneswar. The historic plane has been dismantled is all ready to be transported to Bhubaneswar in special carriers by today evening. A ten member team of the Aerospace Research and Development has been on the ground for the last 12 days at the NSCBIA for dismantling and shifting the plane to Bhubaneswar. As the carrier lorries are very large, elaborate arrangements are being made by various district administrations such as Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur to manage traffic on the way to Bhubaneswar. The lorries will be brought to the state during with police escort.
The Dakota plane will be placed in front of the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and is likely to be unveiled on his Birth Anniversary this year. The airport authorities have given land measuring 1.1 acres for putting up the Dakota plane in front of the Airport Terminal 1.
Legendary Biju Patnaik had established the Kalinga Airlines with fifteen Dakota Airplanes which were used by the Indian forces for transporting men and material deployed in Kashmir and the north eastern parts of the country after Independence. Also, Biju Babu used the Dakota to rescue former Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Hatta and Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir during the 1947 crisis.
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