Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in December requested Union Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri for more international air connectivity to the state. He also sought early air connectivity to Jeypore and Rourkela airstrips under the RCS-UDAN scheme.

In a letter, the Chief Minister also invited the Union minister to visit Odisha along with ministry officials and airline CEOs to explore the potential of Bhubaneswar as a favoured international destination. “I would like to invite you personally to visit state of Odisha along with officers of Civil Aviation Ministry, and the CEOs of major airlines. We will take the opportunity to present in-detail the potential of the state and explain the viability of Bhubaneswar as a favoured international destination,” said the Chief Minister.