Port Blair, July 23: Today, the members of the Utkal Samaj Committee called on the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma to address a range of vital issues.
Among the significant demands put forth during the meeting, one prominent request was the reinstatement of direct flight connectivity between Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, and Port Blair. The members of Utkal Samaj Committee strongly emphasized that reestablishing this direct flight service would offer twofold benefits for the archipelago.
The Utkal Samaj Committee representatives highlighted the importance of a direct flight from Bhubaneswar to promote tourism and strengthen the ties between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Odisha.
Such a flight route would facilitate tourism, including pilgrimage tourism to the sacred destination of Jagannath Puri, a significant pilgrimage site for devotees from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By facilitating easier travel for these devout visitors, the proposed flight service would enhance the spiritual connections between the two regions.
Furthermore, the committee members underscored that the reintroduction of direct flights would also cater to the needs of numerous employees working in various steel plants of Odisha, numbering in lakhs, who avail Leave Travel Concession (LTC). With the availability of direct flights, these working individuals would have convenient access to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, thereby bolstering tourism in the region.
The Member of Parliament for Andaman and Nicobar Islands gave a patient hearing and assured all possible assistance from his end.
