The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted an aerodrome license for Ambikapur Airport in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, paving the way for flight operations, officials announced last week.
According to a statement from the public relations department, Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur, has been developed in the 3-C VFR category to enhance air services in the state.
The application for the license was submitted to the DGCA in December 2022, and the aviation regulator approved it on Friday, reported Financial Express.
With this license, Chhattisgarh now boasts three licensed airports — Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, and Ambikapur under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS).
The license enables the operation of 72-seater flights from Ambikapur. Efforts are underway to commence air services from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi.
The commencement of flights from Ambikapur is expected to stimulate tourism and commercial endeavors in the northern part of the state, fostering the region’s development.
In addition, the state government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre-operated Alliance Air to commence regular commercial flight operations from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi and Kolkata, as well as from Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi via Jabalpur by the conclusion of this month.