With an aim to facilitate air-connectivity to the northern parts of Odisha, the has sought early nod of DEFENCE Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for operation of the Amarda Roadairstripnear Rasagobindapur in Mayurbhanj district.
Chief secretarySuresh Chandra Mohapatrahas written toUniondefence secretary Ajay Kumar, requesting him to give necessary instruction to DRDO over issuance of no objection certificate (NOC) for the airstrip to be used by the state government. Flight operation from the airstrip is being proposed under the Centres Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN).
The state government has requested DRDO several times to provide the NOC for the airstrip so that it could be used by commercial flights. However, there has been no response from DRDO so far for which the flight operation faces a stalemate, said Mohapatra in his letter.
The Union ministry of civil aviation has included the Bhubaneswar-Amarda road as a special RCS route under UDAN 4.1 on request of the state government. Gsec Monarch has been selected as the airline operator for the route where seven flights would ply per week.