- The Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference in Bhubaneswar positions aviation as a growth engine for Eastern India.
- Odisha launches India’s first free cadet pilot training programme for tribal girls under its B-MAAN aviation initiative.
- Plans include 14 airports, 15 heliports, a new MRO hub, and a world-class aviation training centre.
The eastern Indian state of Odisha, long celebrated for its temples and scenic coastline, is now preparing for a dramatic ascent in the aviation sector. With an ambitious blueprint that includes 14 airports, 15 heliports, a groundbreaking Cadet Pilot Training Program for tribal girls, a state-of-the-art MRO hub, and life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), Odisha is positioning itself as one of India’s most dynamic aviation frontiers.
This aviation push took center stage at the recent Eastern Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation and the Wings India 2026 Roadshow, hosted in Bhubaneswar by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI. The event served as a strategic curtain-raiser for Eastern India’s aviation ambitions, spotlighting Odisha’s transformative vision.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, addressing the conference, emphasised the need for deeper Centre–State–Industry collaboration to accelerate growth in the Eastern Region. He underlined that aviation is no longer a luxury, but a critical enabler of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Pointing to India’s emergence as the third-largest domestic aviation market, he noted that with its industrial might, strong tourism base, coastal access, and aspirational Tier-II cities, Eastern India holds immense potential. He highlighted initiatives like UDAN, airport expansion, growth of regional carriers, aviation skilling, and incentives for the MRO sector as central pillars of India’s aviation progress.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, outlined the vision behind convening such regional conferences. He stressed that the Ministry remains committed to building a future-ready, inclusive aviation ecosystem, where states play a critical role in shaping connectivity and access.
Among the most applauded announcements was Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s unveiling of a pioneering pilot training initiative exclusively for tribal girls. The program, launched under the state’s flagship B-MAAN (Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network) scheme, marks India’s first structured effort to offer free, professional pilot training to young women from tribal communities.
“This programme is not just about producing pilots,” said CM Majhi. “It’s about empowering girls from the most marginalised communities, opening the skies for them, and showing that aviation can be a career of aspiration for every daughter of Odisha.”
Each year, 10 to 15 tribal girls will be selected for comprehensive theoretical and practical training to become commercial pilots, with the state government covering the full cost. The announcement was reinforced by a Letter of Intent with Air India to collaborate with the Government of Odisha on this Cadet Pilot Programme, ensuring industry support for the state’s flagship initiative.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Naidu hailed the initiative as “a transformative idea that will inspire the rest of the country. When tribal girls from Odisha take command of a cockpit, it will send a powerful message of inclusion, ambition, and confidence.”
Beyond pilot training, the conference showcased Odisha’s broader aviation strategy, which includes:
- International Airport at Puri: Fast-tracked with site clearance, this airport will serve millions of Jagannath devotees and boost tourism.
- MRO Facility in Bhubaneswar: In partnership with Air Works, a new Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul hub at Biju Patnaik International Airport will create jobs, build technical expertise, and reduce reliance on overseas facilities. An MoU for this anchor facility was signed between Air Works India (Engineering) Pvt. Ltd. and the Government of Odisha, making it a key milestone for Eastern India’s aviation sector.
- Skill Development Training: Under the Nua Odisha scheme, Air Works will run a six-month specialized training programme in aircraft surface preparation, masking, sanding, and painting for up to 20 domicile candidates, linking youth skill-building with the new MRO facility.
- Aviation Training Centre at Birasal, Dhenkanal: A world-class centre for pilot training, UAV operations, and aero-sports to complement the cadet program.
- Airport & Heliport Expansion: Plans to operationalize 14 dormant airstrips and develop 15 heliports in underserved districts to enhance last-mile connectivity.
The conference itself was attended by a high-profile line-up: Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha; Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Civil Aviation Minister; Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation; Shri Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Odisha Commerce & Transport Minister; and Shri Om Prakash Choudhary, Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh. Senior officials such as Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, DG BCAS Rajesh Nirwan, DG DGCA Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, and AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar also joined, underlining the importance attached to the event.
Over 100 industry stakeholders—from airlines and OEMs to drone companies and cargo operators—participated, with FICCI providing the industry interface.
Delegations from Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands engaged in one-on-one sessions with ministry officials to address connectivity gaps and investment opportunities. Parallel sessions brought state governments face-to-face with private players to discuss project facilitation and implementation bottlenecks.
Dedicated sessions also covered region-specific aviation priorities. Topics ranged from regional connectivity and the UDAN scheme to seaplanes, drones, HEMS, and MRO infrastructure. The Ministry of Civil Aviation delivered presentations on Airport and Helipad Development Models, Skilling in Aviation, Drone Ecosystem, and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), while the DGCA briefed states on their role in promoting aviation safety.
Chief Minister Majhi emphasised that aviation is more than infrastructure—it’s a vehicle for inclusive development. “For us, aviation is a bridge that connects aspirations to opportunities… from tribal girls training to fly passenger jets to the creation of heliports in remote districts, every initiative strengthens our people’s link to markets, education, healthcare, and prosperity.”
With fresh investments, skill-building programs, and connectivity projects, Odisha is not just aiming to be a transit hub—it’s shaping up as a driver of economic and social transformation in Eastern India.
Adding momentum, the Ministry drew attention to Wings India 2026—scheduled for 28–31 January 2026 in Hyderabad, which will bring together global aviation stakeholders to showcase opportunities and partnerships. The Bhubaneswar roadshow was positioned as a precursor to this flagship event.
As Civil Aviation Minister Naidu aptly put it, “The future of aviation in Eastern India is being written here in Bhubaneswar—and with Odisha’s bold step to train tribal girls as pilots, it is a future that belongs to everyone.”
This article was co-authored by Rakesh Gera.
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