Archive for August, 2012
Full fledged operation of BPUT starts from Rourkela; Bhubaneswar retains the camp office
Air Odisha flights to start first phase operation from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Angul, Raipur and Nuapada
Following report is from TNIE:
By Express News Service – BHUBANESWAR, 26th August 2012 12:22 PM
Air Odisha Aviation Pvt Ltd has firmed up plans to start commercial flights between Bhubaneswar and important industrial hubs of the State and select tourist draws in eastern India.
The company has proposed to start the operation during the first week of October if everything goes as per the schedule, said Air Odisha sources.
‘’The company has already obtained the no objection certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for running non-scheduled air operations,’’ the sources said.
The company has sought waiver of ground charges for use of airstrips managed by the Government.
It has also suggested that aviation turbine fuel (ATF), used by aircraft, needs to be tax free to ensure that air travel is economically viable for tourists.
“It has been decided to start seven days operation from Bhubaneswar to some select regions of the State.
Connectivity to Kolkata will be available for three days and connectivity to Raipur and Nuapada for same number of days,” the company sources said.
Connectivity to Kolkata will be via Jharsuguda and Rourkela.
Capacity enhancement will be based on demand.
The company has also proposed to provide air link to Jeypore, Vizag and Barbil in its second phase of operation.
Making a review of the progress at a high- level meeting here on Friday, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik advised Air Odisha to start first phase operation from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Angul, Raipur and Nuapada.
Flying time estimate shows that total flying time from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda will be an hour with additional 15 minutes on ground.
Similarly, flying time from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela will be an hour and from Bhubaneswar to Angul 30 minutes with additional 15 minutes on ground for upward flights. For downward flights from these places to Bhubaneswar, the time on ground will be 30 minutes.
The company plans to start its operations with a nine-seater. Air Odisha is also looking beyond the State.
It is eyeing destinations like Vizag, Kolkata, Ranchi, Raipur, Jamshedpur, Tirupati and Shirdi after procuring a 19- seater aircraft.
Initially, it will offer connectivity between the City and places of industrial activities like Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Jeypore.
Mine-rich locations like Barbil and Angul also figure on the company’s radar and operations to these places will be introduced depending on viability, the sources said.
Flight operations to Shirdi and Tirupati are expected to begin by December, said a company official.
The non-scheduled air transport services are expected to boost industrial, tourism and business activities in the State.
Following is another report from the Sambad:
Following is another report from http://business-standard.com/india/news/air-odisha-to-start-flightsept/479406/
Air Odisha Aviation Pvt Ltd, a company floated by Odia entrepreneurs, has firmed up plans to start commercial flight operations connecting Bhubaneswar with important industrial hubs in the state and also with select destinations of tourist importance in eastern India.
The company looks to start its operations with a nine-seater, no-frills carrier from September this year. Initially, it will offer connectivity between the city and places of industrial activity like Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Jeypore. Mine rich locations like Barbil and Angul also figure on the company’s radar and operations to these places will be introduced depending on viability.
Air Odisha is also looking beyond the state. It is eyeing destinations like Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Ranchi, Raipur, Jamshedpur, Tirupati and Shirdi after procuring a 19-seater aircraft.
“The fare would range from Rs 4000-6000 per head for travel within the state and also to eastern India cities. For Shirdi and Tirupati, we would charge Rs 12,000. Flight operations to Shirdi are expected to begin by December this year,” said a company official.
“We have already obtained the no objection certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for running non-scheduled air operations,” he added. The company has sought waiver of ground charges for use of airstrips managed by the government. It has also suggested that aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to be used by aircrafts need to be tax free to ensure that it is economically viable for tourists to travel by air.
A special court to dispose of SCs and STs cases to come up in Balangir
Following report is from the Sambad:
Sardar Raja Medical College administration working to enroll students from coming academic year
Following report is from the Sambad:
Kolkota based Ambo Steel and Power to set up pellet unit in Deogarh
Following is a report from the Pioneer:
Kolkota-based Ambo Steel and Power has proposed to set up a 1.2-MTPA pellet and beneficiation plant at Barkot in Deogarh district with an investment of Rs 478 crore.
Ipicol CMD CJ Venugopal said the proposal of the company was cleared at the State-Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik.
The SLSWCA cleared two industrial project proposals worth Rs 538 crore, including the Ambo Steel and Power Company’s pellet and beneficiation plant. The Ipicol CMD said Ambo Steels and Power proposed to set up the plant in two phases and requires 200 acres of land. The plant would provide direct employment to around 500 people.
The company has also agreed to a proposal from the State Government to set up maize processing plant in undivided Koraput district, Venugopal said. He also said that the proposal of the SMB Beverage to set up a soft drink bottling plant at Bhatly in Bargarh district at a cost of Rs 60 crore, also got the nod of the SLSWCA. The plant would have a capacity to produce Rs 100 lakh crates per annum and provide direct employment opportunity to 117 persons. The company has sought 15 acres of land for the setting up the soft drinks bottling plant.
Venugopal said that as per the in principle decision of the SLSWCA, henceforth, the District Level Single Window Clearance Committee headed by the District Collectors were authorized to give clearance to all viable tourism related projects worth less than Rs 5 crore. Tourism projects above Rs 5 crore would come under the purview of the SLSWCA for scrutiny, he said.
In another major decision, the SLSWCA in principle prohibited setting up of any industry within 300 metres from the National and State Highways.
Odisha plans five new greenfield airports
The Odisha Government has proposed to develop greenfield airports in five locations in an effort to boost intra-State and inter-State civil aviation facilities.
The five airports will come up in the industrial hubs of Rayagada, Paradip, Dhamara, Angul and Kalinganagar, a senior official said, adding that proposals were also on the anvil to upgrade existing airfields at Gopalpur, Jharsuguda, Barbil and Rourkela.
The State-owned IPICOL, in association with the Civil Aviation Department, has initiated a roadmap for facilitating investment in aviation-related activities to boost intra and inter-state trade and tourism.
“A roadmap has been prepared for a period of 10 years from 2012-13 to 2022-23. The proposed areas of development range from creation of night parking facility and hinterland connectivity to establishment of aero city and refuelling hub,” the official said.
The state also set a target of creating milestones such as domestic terminal and connectivity, setting up of aviation training institutes, operationalisation of international flight, development of cargo hub and airline base, the sources said.
The State, at present, has 17 airstrips and 16 helipads. The Government has also identified nine locations to be connected through civil aviation facility.
“We are working on operation of flights to establish connectivity to other cities such as Raipur, Patna, Bhopal and Ranchi,” the official said.
He said a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary, B K Patnaik, was held recently on the matter.
He has also asked IPICOL to explore partnership opportunities with interested airlines for connectivity to South and Southeast Asia from the international wing of Bhubaneswar Airport.
Bhawanipatna railway station inaugurated
Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Aug 11 (PTI) The railway station at Bhawanipatna in Sambalpur division of East Coast Railways was inaugurated and 18438 Bhawanipatna-Rayagada- Bhubaneswar Link Express train was flagged off from here today. The daily express train, flagged off by Lok Sabha member and former minister of state for Railways Bhakta Charan Das, will link Raygada, Vijayanagaram and Berhampur to reach Bhubaneswar. He requested railway officials to take steps for early completion of Lanjigarh-Junagarh rail line from Bhawanipatna to Junagarh. Implementation of rail wagon factory project would also give Kalahandi a special place in rail map, Das said. PTI COR SKN AMD
Kosli language is the medium of instruction in Haladhar Abasik Vidyalaya, Kudopali, Bargarh
Following report is from the Samaja (Thanks to Saket Sahu for sending the report):