Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh‘s air connectivity received a major boost on Saturday as Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav flagged off four new flights from Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal, establishing direct air links between key cities of the state and Patna and Kolkata.
The newly launched services will connect Bhopal-Rewa, Bhopal-Patna, Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata. The new routes are expected to benefit thousands of passengers by reducing travel time and improving access to major business, educational, tourism and employment centres.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla were also present at the launch ceremony. Chief Minister Yadav handed over boarding passes to passengers on the occasion.
The new services are being operated by Alliance Air with financial support from the Madhya Pradesh government under its Civil Aviation Policy-2025.
Direct Connectivity to Patna and Kolkata
The launch has created new direct air links between Madhya Pradesh and eastern India.
The Bhopal-Patna service will provide a direct connection between the Madhya Pradesh capital and Bihar’s capital, eliminating the need for many passengers to travel through larger aviation hubs.
Similarly, the Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata flights will connect two important Madhya Pradesh cities directly with Kolkata and the wider eastern Indian region.
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The Bhopal-Rewa service will establish a direct connection between the state capital and the Vindhya region, improving accessibility for passengers travelling for business, administration, education and other purposes.
The government expects the new routes to generate wider economic benefits by facilitating movement of tourists, students, professionals and business travellers.
CM Mohan Yadav Highlights Expansion of MP’s Aviation Network
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav described the launch as a proud moment for Madhya Pradesh and highlighted the rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure in the state.
He noted that airports in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhopal and Indore were originally established during the British period, while the Khajuraho Airport was subsequently developed during the Janata Party government.
According to the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh has added three new airports in the last three years, while approval has now been granted for five more airports.
He said the state government is providing financial support running into lakhs of rupees per flight to promote air connectivity and make new routes viable.
Bhopal-Sharjah Flight to Begin Soon
Dr. Yadav also highlighted the expansion of international air connectivity from Madhya Pradesh.
An international flight between Indore and Abu Dhabi was launched last month, while an international service between Bhopal and Sharjah is expected to begin within the next two months.
The Chief Minister said the expansion of direct domestic and international services would reduce the dependence of passengers on major transit hubs such as Delhi and Mumbai.
He expressed hope that the expansion of aviation infrastructure would continue throughout the tenure of the state government, with more airports and routes being added in the coming years.
According to him, 10 airports have been added to the state’s aviation network in the last five years, while air services have been launched on more than 10 routes in the past two years.
MP’s Air Ambulance and Heli-Service Also Expanded
The Chief Minister also highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s initiatives in emergency aviation services.
He said Madhya Pradesh was the first state in the country to introduce an air ambulance service. Under the system, patients can be transported by aircraft from locations with suitable airstrips, while helicopters are used where airstrips are unavailable.
According to Dr. Yadav, the state’s heli-service has also gained momentum, with the number of passengers using the service increasing.
He said the government would continue expanding aviation infrastructure and services so that more parts of Madhya Pradesh are connected by air.
Rammohan Naidu Praises MP’s Aviation Policy
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu described the launch as a significant occasion for Madhya Pradesh and congratulated the state government and passengers on the new services.
He said India’s aviation sector has witnessed major expansion under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly through initiatives such as the UDAN scheme.
According to Naidu, around 90 airports have been developed under the government’s aviation expansion efforts, while the number of aircraft in the country has doubled.
He said the expansion has particularly benefited Tier-II and Tier-III cities, bringing air connectivity closer to a larger section of the population.
The Union Minister also praised Madhya Pradesh’s new aviation policy, describing it as one of the best, and currently the best, aviation policies in the country.
₹29,000 Crore Investment Planned for New Airports
Naidu said further expansion of India’s aviation infrastructure is on the cards, with new airports expected to be developed at a cost of around ₹29,000 crore.
He emphasised that construction of an airport can significantly transform the economy of the surrounding area by improving connectivity, attracting investment and creating new opportunities.
The Union Minister also said the country is expected to receive around 1,700 new aircraft, while the UDAN scheme is likely to witness significant expansion over the coming decade.
Referring to his interaction with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Naidu said the two leaders would work together to further strengthen connectivity and aviation infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh.
Rajendra Shukla Calls It a Historic Day for Vindhya
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla described the launch as a historic day for the Vindhya region.
He highlighted Vindhya’s substantial natural and economic resources, including coal and power, as well as its religious tourism potential. However, he said inadequate connectivity had remained a challenge in fully utilising these strengths for regional development.
Shukla thanked Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for introducing the new aviation policy and said the policy had received widespread appreciation.
He stressed that air connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity, particularly for promoting trade, tourism and economic activity.
He also described the launch of the new flights as the realisation of a long-standing dream for the people of the region.
State to Provide Up to ₹10 Lakh VGF Per Round Trip
The newly introduced flights will be operated by Alliance Air, with the Madhya Pradesh government providing financial assistance under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy-2025.
Under the policy, the state government will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of up to ₹10 lakh to the airline for every round trip.
The financial support is intended to make the new routes commercially viable while ensuring that passengers in cities that have traditionally had limited air connectivity can access direct services.
The policy reflects the state government’s focus on connecting Madhya Pradesh’s cities with major urban centres across India through convenient, safe and time-saving air services.
New Routes Expected to Boost Tourism, Trade and Education
The four new routes are expected to have an impact well beyond passenger travel.
Direct connectivity between Bhopal and Rewa will strengthen links between the state capital and the Vindhya region. The Bhopal-Patna service will improve access between Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, while the Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata services will strengthen links with eastern India.
The government expects improved connectivity to benefit tourism, trade, education, employment and other economic activities.
For tourists, faster access to destinations could encourage greater movement between regions. Businesses are also expected to benefit from easier movement of entrepreneurs, employees and customers.
Students and people travelling for medical, administrative or professional purposes are likely to benefit from reduced travel time and fewer connecting journeys.
Aviation Push to Support MP’s Economic Growth
The latest flight launches form part of Madhya Pradesh’s broader push to expand its aviation network and integrate more cities with major national and international destinations.
The state government’s aviation policy, combined with financial support for new routes and investment in airport infrastructure, is aimed at making air travel accessible to a wider section of the population.
With new airports, additional domestic routes, international services and emergency aviation facilities being developed, the government expects air connectivity to play an increasingly important role in the state’s economic and tourism growth.
The launch of the four new services from Bhopal marks another step in this expansion, giving Madhya Pradesh direct air connectivity with Patna and Kolkata while strengthening links between Bhopal, Rewa and Jabalpur.
