Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government will bring back the iconic Dakota aircraft of legendary freedom fighter and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik to the State from Kolkata soon.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to hand over 1.1 acre land on the premises of the Bhubaneswar airport for the purpose, as per reports.
Efforts to bring back the aircraft to Odisha were made in the last two years and tender was also floated for the initiative. However, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the plan.
The administration is now all set to complete the process as the AAI, at its recent board meeting, accepted the State Government’s proposal to lease out 1.1 acre of land for setting up a memorial, where the aircraft will be put up for display.
The aircraft, which is 64 feet and 8 inches long, with its wings stretching to 95 feet, will be dismantled for transportation by road to Bhubaneswar from the Kolkata airport, reports added.
Biju Patnaik had used the Dakota aircraft to rescue former Indonesia Vice-President and then Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir from the Dutch military back in 1947.
The erstwhile Kalinga Airlines had 18 Dakota aircraft. The aircraft were used in the Kashmir operation in 1947-48 for ferrying troops, medical assistants and other supplies to Srinagar.