Bhubaneswar: The State Government today announced a new policy designed to significantly enhance air connectivity across the State.
This initiative offers substantial financial incentives to airlines, encouraging the launch of new domestic and international air routes serving Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar), Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda), and smaller airports in Jeypore, Rourkela, and Utkela, Shri Ahuja informed media persons.
Airlines launching new scheduled services receive Viability Gap Funding (VGF). This includes Rs 5,00,000 per round trip for domestic routes and Rs 10,00,000 for international routes, with potential increases for routes exceeding 750km. This support mitigates financial risk and makes new routes more attractive.
The Cabinet has also approved the paddy procurement policy for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25, which will commence from October 18, 2024 and conclude on September 30, 2025.
The State Government will procure paddy during Kharif and Rabi seasons separately within the KMS. A tentative target of 54 lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) in terms of rice has been fixed for KMS 2024-25. In terms of paddy this comes to around 80 LMT. For Kharif, the tentative target for procurement of paddy would be 66 lakh MT & for Rabi 14 lakh MT. There is no bar for procurement of any higher quantum if more paddy comes to Mandies from registered farmers.
Further, the Cabinet has decided to bring an amendment to the OGST Act, 2017 for greater convenience of taxpayers on the recommendation of the GST Council.