Bhubaneswar: A flight service to Jharsuguda under the regional air connectivity (Udan) scheme will begin next month and the Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur flight will operate daily from October 26.

"We will be ready to start operations to Jharsuguda by November. We are yet to get confirmation from the private operators. As soon as they are ready, we will start the services," said Odisha chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi after presiding over the state-level monitoring committee on Udan scheme on Tuesday.

Padhi, however, said the air connectivity to other cities such as Rourkela, Jeypore and Utkela (Kalahandi) may take more time.

"For Rourkela, we are sorting out issues with Rourkela Steel Plant, which had initially agreed to manage the airport. But, now it is not showing interest. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is working to get the airstrip ready. So, we expect that the whole process will take two to three months," he said.

Besides, the Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur flight would operate every day from October 26, said airport sources.

More than 60 police and fire personnel have been trained to provide security and fire services at the regional airstrips.

Padhi directed the police department to nominate more officers for such training to meet the requirement for the new airstrips. It has been decided to train another 88 police personnel and seven fire personnel for the purpose.

Earlier, an MoU had been signed between the Odisha government and Airports Authority of India to start air service to Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Jeypore and Utkela. The routes such as Bhubaneswar-Utkela, Utklela-Raipur, Bhubaneswar-Jeypore, Bhubaneswar -Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda-Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar-Rourkela have been suggested for regional connectivity.

Five airstrips of the state, including the Biju Pattanaik International Airport, were selected for Udan scheme in the first phase. The city airport will serve as the mentor airport. Airports Authority of India and the Odisha government will jointly develop the Jharsuguda airport.

While the Odisha and AAI have requested the authorities of Rourkela Steel Plant to make the Rourkela airstrip ready for Udan, the other two airstrips at Jeypore and Utkela will be developed with funding from both the Odisha government and AAI.

The issue related to setting up of air fuelling station base was discussed at today's meeting and such bases would come up at Utkela and Jeypore. Bharat Petroleum Company Limited will set up the base at Jeypore, while one of the public sector oil companies will be assigned the Utkela project. Oil companies were requested to set up fuelling base before commencement of the commercial operation of the flights.

Odisha government is providing both the manpower and financial support to make the regional connectivity scheme viable during the initial periods. The state government has decided to reduce VAT on aviation turbine fuel from 5 to 1 per cent and provide 20 per cent of the viable-gap funding. It is also providing land, security and fire services.