- Prime Minister inaugurated new airport in Jharsuguda, also known as the powerhouse of Odisha (September 22).
- It is the first airport in Odisha to provide necessary connectivity to Bhubaneswar, Raipur and Ranchi under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN Scheme.
- Other than Jharsuguda, three more airports are being developed in Odisha namely,
- Jeypore (Koraput District),
- Rourkela (Sundargarh District) and
- Utkela (Kalahandi District)
to provide connectivity to remote and far-flung areas of the coastal state under RCS.
- Jharsuguda is the 2nd airport of Odisha after Bhubaneswar to become operational.