With Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) inking an MoU with Airports Authority of India AAI ) on Monday for the introduction of flights from Rourkela airport, the much-awaited air connection from the city to Kolkata and Bhubaneswar will become a reality soon.SAIL is the owner of Rourkela airport and the signing of an MoU with AAI was mandatory for the introduction of commercial flights from the city airport.A press release issued by SAIL said the MoU had been signed in New Delhi, in the presence of Usha Padhee, joint secretary of the civil aviation ministry. As per the agreement, the Rourkela, Burnpur and Bokaro airstrips of SAIL would be utilized by AAI under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, a flagship project of the Centre."As per the MoU, AAI, as the implementing agency of the RCS-UDAN scheme, will operate and manage operations at these airports on behalf of SAIL for the next three years," the release said. In a recent letter to RSP Executives' Association president Bimal Bisi, AAI had said flight services from Rourkela airport were likely to start from May.The inking of the MoU, believed to be the last step before the introduction of UDAN services from Rourkela, has been welcomed here."The introduction of air services will not only increase connectivity but expedite development here," said Bimal Bisi, president of the RSP Executives' Association, Rourkela."People from all walks of life have been keenly awaiting the introduction of air services here and we are happy to know that all formalities have been completed," said K K Poddar, president of the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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