Direct Bhopal–Sharjah International Flight to Begin Within Two Months: CM Dr. Yadav

A major milestone was added to Madhya Pradesh’s expanding air connectivity on Sunday, with Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagging off four new direct air services in the state. The new Bhopal–Rewa, Bhopal–Patna, Rewa–Kolkata and Jabalpur–Kolkata direct flights have established direct air connectivity between the Vindhya and Mahakaushal regions, the state capital Bhopal and major cities of eastern India, including Kolkata and Patna.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Minister Shri Naidu also distributed boarding passes to passengers travelling on Alliance Air’s newly launched Bhopal–Rewa flight. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla travelled to Rewa on the same flight from Bhopal.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, addressing the programme organised at Raja Bhoj Airport to mark the launch of the four new air services, described the occasion as a ‘Historic Day’ for the expansion of air services in Madhya Pradesh. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, development and civic amenities in Madhya Pradesh are gaining new momentum.

Chief Minister Dr Yadav, congratulating the people of Bhopal, announced that a direct international flight from Bhopal to Sharjah would commence within the next two months. He said the state government is working rapidly to expand air services across Madhya Pradesh. The Chief Minister said that three new airports—in Rewa, Satna and Datia—have become operational in the state over the past three years, while new airports are being developed in Ujjain and Shivpuri. He added that the Union Civil Aviation Minister had approved five new airports for Madhya Pradesh on the same day, with Singrauli set to get the first of these airports.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that air services have been launched on more than 10 routes in the state over the past two years. He said efforts are being made to extend the benefits of air connectivity to all regions of Madhya Pradesh. The Chief Minister added that Madhya Pradesh was the first state in the country to introduce an air ambulance service. The state government’s helicopter service is operating daily and has recorded 95% occupancy.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that air services in the state were once limited and facilities were inadequate, but the simultaneous launch of four new flights reflects the changing face of Madhya Pradesh and India. He said that the biggest benefit of the new services would be significant savings in travel time. The Bhopal–Rewa flight will operate four days a week, while Bhopal–Patna, Rewa–Kolkata and Jabalpur–Kolkata flights will operate three days a week. While travel between these cities by road or rail currently takes several hours, the direct flights will cover the same distances in around two to two-and-a-half hours.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh, besides being located at the heart of the country, has the potential to emerge as an important connectivity hub linking different states. He said the direct flights would save both time and money for industrialists, traders and tourists.

The direct connectivity of industrial centres such as Rewa and Jabalpur with Kolkata would also open access to larger markets for local industries and the MSME sector. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that between November 2025 and August 2026, air services had commenced on eight new routes in the state in just 10 months, including the Indore–Abu Dhabi international service.

Madhya Pradesh currently has eight airports, more than 20 airstrips and 220 helipads. He said expansion of air services was not limited to transportation but was also critical infrastructure for accelerating investment, industry, tourism and employment.

Under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy 2025, the state government is supporting air services. To connect farmers with global markets, the airports at Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur have been included under the Krishi UDAN scheme. The government will also bear 60% of course fees for youth seeking careers in the aviation sector.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said the direct air services launched today would further strengthen the infrastructure supporting the development of Madhya Pradesh.

Centre to Spend ₹29,000 Crore on Aviation Development and Expansion by 2036

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said the civil aviation sector has expanded rapidly in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said the UDAN scheme, launched in 2016 with the vision of ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’, expanded access to air services for people in smaller cities and ordinary citizens. Around 90 new airports have been developed across the country in recent years, while the aircraft fleet and number of air passengers have also increased significantly. The Union Minister said airports and air connectivity are not merely means of transportation but important drivers of local economic development. Real estate, hotels, restaurants and other commercial activities grow around airports, creating employment opportunities.

Union Minister Shri Naidu said that civil aviation infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh has expanded rapidly under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. Along with expansion of facilities in Bhopal, Indore and

Gwalior, new airports have been developed in Satna, Datia and Rewa. He said Madhya Pradesh’s Civil Aviation Policy is effective in strengthening connectivity and could be considered among the best aviation policies of any state in the country. As a result, international connectivity from Indore and new routes such as Rewa–Kolkata, Rewa–Patna, Jabalpur–Kolkata and Bhopal–Rewa are being launched. Union Minister Shri Naidu said that the Centre would work with the state government to connect more cities in Madhya Pradesh with air services. Work is underway to explore the possibility of converting around 10 airstrips in the state into airports and developing greenfield airports in some cities.

Union Minister Shri Naidu said the UDAN scheme has been extended for the next 10 years, with the Central Government allocating around ₹29,000 crore for the purpose. This will accelerate the development of new airports, heliports and air connectivity. He said the combined efforts under the UDAN scheme, Madhya Pradesh’s aviation policy and the cooperation of the people of the state would pave the way for taking Madhya Pradesh to new heights in civil aviation. The Union Minister said the civil aviation sector is emerging as an important source of employment and new opportunities for youth. The development of new airports and expansion of aviation activities would further increase employment opportunities. He said Madhya Pradesh has a vision of developing an airport every 150 km, an airstrip every 75 km and a heliport every 45 km. The Central Government would extend full support to Madhya Pradesh in achieving this vision. The Union Minister said the new air services launched today mark a new beginning and that more cities and destinations would be connected to Madhya Pradesh by air in the coming years.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla said that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, a visionary State Aviation Policy 2025 has been formulated to expand air connectivity in Madhya Pradesh. The policy is rapidly connecting smaller cities of the state with major cities. He said the expansion of air services, particularly in the Vindhya region, would accelerate new development opportunities. Air services from Rewa to Delhi, Indore and Raipur have already commenced. With the launch of direct services connecting Rewa with Bhopal and Kolkata, connectivity in the region would be further strengthened. Deputy Chief Minister  Shri Shukla said Singrauli is among the major power hubs. The region also has three national parks and immense potential for religious and cultural tourism. Chitrakoot is an important sacred land associated with Lord Shri Ram’s exile. Improved air connectivity would provide fresh impetus to these opportunities.

Deputy Chief Minister  Shri Shukla said that the State Aviation Policy was formulated with the visionary approach of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, keeping in view the need for financial support for operating aircraft such as ATR-72. The policy has received appreciation in the aviation sector. He informed that the fare for the Rewa–Bhopal air service has been fixed at around ₹2,700, with the maximum dynamic fare capped at ₹3,500. The fare cap for the Rewa–Kolkata service has been set at around ₹5,300. This would make air travel more accessible to ordinary citizens. The Dy CM  said that connectivity is being expanded from Bhopal to Patna and Kolkata, from Bhopal to Rewa and to other cities. With coordinated efforts by the Central and state governments, work to connect the Vindhya region with major cities across the country would continue.

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Sameer Kumar Sinha said that since 2016, the Central Government has been continuously working to connect Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and remote areas with air connectivity through the UDAN scheme. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Modified UDAN scheme on July 4. The scheme would give fresh impetus to connecting smaller cities with air services over the next 10 years. Shri Sinha said the Airport Authority of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation would work in coordination with the state government to identify available airstrips in Madhya Pradesh, develop airports and expand air services. Areas where air services have not commenced despite the availability of airstrips and terminals due to limited aircraft availability would also be connected through the Modified UDAN scheme.

Shri Sinha said that new air services are being launched through Alliance Air. Various airlines, including IndiGo, Alliance Air, Air India Express and Air India, have placed orders for new aircraft, strengthening the prospects for further expansion of air services. He added that regional airlines such as Fly91 and Star Air have also expanded following the launch of the UDAN scheme. Madhya Pradesh has prepared a clear roadmap keeping in view the geographical requirements and future potential of the civil aviation sector. With the support of the Central Government, Airport Authority of India, Alliance Air and other airlines, the civil aviation sector in Madhya Pradesh would receive further momentum.

Additional Chief Secretary, Aviation Department, Shri Sanjay Kumar Shukla said continuous efforts are being made to expand air connectivity in Madhya Pradesh under the guidance and encouragement of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. He said new air services have been launched from seven cities in the state over the past year. An international air service from Indore to Abu Dhabi has also been launched under the state’s aviation policy. Shri Shukla said four new air services are being launched today as part of these continuing efforts.

All four new air services launched today are funded under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy 2025. The state government will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support of up to ₹10 lakh per round trip on each domestic air route. All four services will be operated by Alliance Air.

The Bhopal–Rewa service will operate four days a week—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Bhopal–Patna service will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, while the Rewa–Kolkata and Jabalpur–Kolkata services will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The direct Bhopal–Patna service will connect the state capital with Patna, the capital of Bihar, while the Bhopal–Rewa service will establish direct air connectivity between the state capital and the Vindhya region.

Direct connectivity between Rewa and Jabalpur and Kolkata will facilitate passengers from these regions. All four new services will benefit tourism, trade, education and various other sectors.

Direct air connectivity will significantly reduce travel time for passengers. While the Bhopal–Rewa journey takes around 10 hours by rail, the air journey will take approximately 1.5 hours. Similarly, while travel by rail between Bhopal and Patna and between Rewa and Kolkata takes around 22 hours, the direct air journey will take approximately two hours. The Jabalpur–Kolkata journey, which takes around 22 hours by rail, will take approximately 2.5 hours by air. This translates into a saving of around 8.5 hours on the Bhopal–Rewa route, around 20 hours each on the Bhopal–Patna and Rewa–Kolkata routes, and around 19.5 hours on the Jabalpur–Kolkata route.

In the absence of direct air connectivity, airfares on these routes were earlier around ₹8,000 to ₹10,000, with passengers required to travel via Delhi and change flights.

With the launch of the new direct services, fares will come down to approximately ₹3,200 to ₹4,500. The fare for Bhopal–Rewa will be around ₹3,500, Bhopal–Patna ₹4,500, Rewa–Kolkata ₹3,200 and Jabalpur–Kolkata ₹4,500.

The launch of the four new routes has also strengthened airline confidence in the state’s aviation policy. Journeys that previously took 20 to 22 hours can now be completed in just two to 2.5 hours by direct flight, saving passengers both time and money while making travel more convenient and comfortable.

With the launch of the new direct services, fares will come down to approximately ₹3,200 to ₹4,500. The fare for Bhopal–Rewa will be around ₹3,500, Bhopal–Patna ₹4,500, Rewa–Kolkata ₹3,200 and Jabalpur–Kolkata ₹4,500.

The launch of the four new routes has also strengthened airline confidence in the state’s aviation policy. Journeys that previously took 20 to 22 hours can now be completed in just two to 2.5 hours by direct flight, saving passengers both time and money while making travel more convenient and comfortable.

Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare and Cooperation Shri Vishwas Kailash Sarang, Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Smt. Radha Singh, Bhopal MP Shri Alok Sharma, Bhopal Mayor Smt. Malti Rai, Commissioner, Aviation Department, Shri Chandramauli Shukla, Member (Planning), Airport Authority of India, Shri Anil Kumar Gupta, Regional Executive Director, Western Region, Airport Authority of India, Shri H. Pulla, Chairman, Alliance Air, Shri Amit Kumar, CEO, Alliance Air, Shri Rajarshi Sen, Deputy CCO, Alliance Air, Shri Vineet Bhalla, along with other public representatives, officials and passengers travelling on the Bhopal–Rewa flight were present at the programme.