Bhubaneswar: The keenly-awaited direct international flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai kicked off with the inauguration of maiden flight between the two cities by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Monday.
The launch of this flight service has marked a new era of development in Odisha. It is poised to open up a direct gateway to the world for the people of Odisha. Apart from providing seamless connectivity, the flight service will have a huge multiplier effect on investment in Odisha in sectors like IT, manufacturing and tourism. This is the aspiration of New Odisha where Mission Shakti members play an instrumental role fulfilling the vision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The Mission Shakti members today witnessed the glorious moment as they travelled in the maiden direct flight to Dubai from Bhubaneswar.
The Mission Shakti movement started under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is going to have international exposure and market. It its quest for empowerment of women, the Mission Shakti movement has been transforming the lives of the women of Odisha and making them self reliant.
Empowerment of women has been one of the key development initiatives of the Odisha Government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Mission Shakti programme is the most successful towards the empowerment of women.
While opening the open ticket sales for the Dubai Flight on the Utkal Diwas on April 1, the Chief Minister had handled over the first eight tickets to Mission Shakti women, sportspersons, tribal leaders, Skilled in Odisha students and artists.
The Mission Shakti members are part of the delegation from the State that boarded the maiden flight.
The Mission Shakti SHG members have turned into entrepreneurs. They are today one of the biggest and best producers of good that have an international market. Products of Odisha can now find place in international markets through Dubai.
A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled on this maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.
Special arrangements were made to see off the travellers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.
It is pertinent to note that the Chief Minister made a commitment back in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors’ Meet held in Dubai to establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.
These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week.
Besides, the State Government has also worked towards establishing direct flight connectivity with the Southeast Asian markets through Singapore and Bangkok, with the commencement of these flights scheduled from early June 2023.