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New Delhi : Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, along with MoS, Civil Aviation, General Dr V K Singh (Retd.) virtually flagged off the first direct flight operations between Jamnagar (Gujarat), to Bengaluru (Karnataka) & Hyderabad (Telangana) under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme — Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) of the Government of India.
Operationaliszing of this route expands the aerial connectivity of Jamnagar to 3 major cities of India that includes Mumbai (Maharashtra), Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, according to a PIB release.
Jawaharbhai Chavda, Tourism Minister, Gujarat; Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Minister of Civil Aviation, Gujarat; Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam, Member of Parliament, Jamnagar, also graced the flag off event virtually.
Scindia said, “I am happy to announce the kick-starting of regional connectivity from Jamnagar under UDAN. From today, M/s Star Air will operate first time direct flights between Jamnagar and Bengaluru including flights between Jamnagar and Hyderabad under UDAN. Jamnagar is the perfect blend of trade, cultural, and religious hubs. Moreover, I am delighted to announce that we are planning to commence 10 more additional flights from Gujarat under UDAN. The UDAN scheme envisioned by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a game-changer for the civil aviation sector of the country.”
Jamnagar is also called the “Chhoti Kashi” due to the presence of more than 100 temples. Jamnagar is well known for its four marble Jain temples: Vardhman Shah Temple, Raisi Shah Temple, Sheth Temple, and Vasupujya Swami Temple; all built between 1574 and 1622. Furthermore, Jamnagar is also called Gateway city to one of the Char Dhams – Mokshapuri city – Dwarka.
The city of Jamnagar is also known as the World’s Oil City due to the presence of the world’s largest Oil Refining and Petrochemicals Complex near the village of Moti Khavdi andthe second-largest private refinery in India located in the nearby town of Vadinar. Owing to the presence of more than 5,000 largescale and 10,000 small-scale workshops manufacturing brass items, Jamnagar was formerly termed as ‘Brass City’ of the country. The region records the largest production of brass items in the country.
Due to the non-availability of any direct mode of air or rail connectivity, people were compelled to spend long travel hours to reach these cities. Availability of direct flight between Jamnagar and Bengaluru will drastically cut down the travel time to 135 minutes from earlier 7 hours taken for air travel using connecting flights via Mumbai. Alternate option of road travel between these two cities also takes over 30 hours while train travel takes around 20 hours.
Likewise, the completion of the entire journey took more than 1 day to reach Hyderabad from Jamnagar by train and road travel or vice-versa. Due to the non-connectivity of direct flights between these two cities, it took more than 6 hours for air travel using connecting flights.
Star Air was awarded the above routes during the UDAN 3 bidding process. The airlines are being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable and accessibleto the common people. The airline will be operating thrice-weekly flights on the route and will deploy its 50-seater Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. The route marks the commencement of the 32nd UDAN route by the airline. Till date, 369 routes and 60 airports (including 5 heliports and 2 water aerodromes) have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme.