Madhya Pradesh’s air connectivity received a big boost on Sunday as state Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav flagged off four new flights from Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal, establishing direct air links with Patna and Kolkata and connecting the state’s major cities more efficiently.

The new services will connect Bhopal with Rewa and Patna, and Rewa and Jabalpur with Kolkata. The launch is expected to benefit thousands of passengers by cutting travel time while giving a boost to business, employment, tourism and economic activity across the state.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla were also present at the inauguration ceremony. Yadav also handed over boarding passes to passengers at the event.

CM Dr Yadav highlights aviation expansion

Calling the occasion a “glorious day”, CM Dr Yadav said Madhya Pradesh’s aviation infrastructure had undergone a significant transformation under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s leadership.

He noted that Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhopal and Indore airports were built during the British era, while Khajuraho airport was added later. In the past three years, he said, Madhya Pradesh had received three new airports and five more airports had now been approved.

CM Dr Yadav said the state government provides subsidies running into lakhs of rupees per flight to strengthen air connectivity. He also highlighted the launch of an international flight from Indore to Abu Dhabi last month and said an international service from Bhopal to Sharjah would begin in two months.

According to the Chief Minister, expanding air connectivity would reduce the need for residents to travel via Delhi or Mumbai to reach international destinations.

Air ambulance and helicopter services also expanding

CM Dr Yadav also highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s air ambulance initiative, saying the facility was first introduced in the state. Patients are transported by aircraft from locations with airstrips, while helicopters are used where such facilities are unavailable.

He said helicopter services in the state were gaining momentum, with passenger numbers increasing. Thereafter, he said that the government expected the expansion of airports and air routes to continue, with the state having gained 10 airports over a five-year period and receiving aviation connectivity to more than 10 routes within two years.

Aviation expansion to continue: Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu described the launch as a moment of happiness and congratulated everyone associated with the new services.

He said the expansion of air connectivity was taking place under PM Modi’s leadership and highlighted the work carried out in the aviation sector over the past 12 years.

Naidu said the government’s UDAN scheme had helped expand aviation infrastructure, with 90 airports developed and the number of aircraft in the country doubling. He said Tier-II and Tier-III cities were undergoing significant transformation as a result of improved air connectivity.

Praising Madhya Pradesh’s new aviation policy, Naidu described it as “excellent” and said the state’s policy was among the better aviation policies in the country.

He said more airports would be developed in the future at a cost of ₹29,000 crore, adding that the construction of an airport can transform the economy of the surrounding region. He also said around 1,700 new aircraft were expected to enter the country and that the UDAN scheme would witness major expansion over the next decade.

‘A dream has come true’

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla described the launch as a historic day for the Vindhya region.

He said the region had coal, power resources and religious tourism, but lacked adequate connectivity to fully realise its economic potential. Shukla credited Yadav’s new aviation policy for addressing this long-standing gap.

He stressed that air connectivity was no longer a luxury but a necessity for accelerating trade and tourism. “A dream has come true,” he said, adding that improved connectivity would make air travel accessible to a wider section of society.

Four new routes to boost tourism and business

The flights will be operated by Alliance Air, with the state government providing financial assistance under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy-2025. Under the arrangement, the state government will provide up to ₹10 lakh in viability gap funding (VGF) for every round trip to the airline.

The Bhopal-Rewa service will directly connect the state capital with the Vindhya region, while the Bhopal-Patna flight will establish a direct link between Madhya Pradesh and Bihar’s capital.

Similarly, direct Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata services will connect two important Madhya Pradesh cities with Kolkata and eastern India.

The new services are expected to save passengers several hours of travel while facilitating business, education and tourism. The state government believes the expanded network will strengthen economic activity and provide citizens with more convenient, safer and time-bound travel options.