Bastar’s air connectivity takes off as 3 lakh passengers fly from Jagdalpur Airport

Raipur
The expansion of air travel facilities has become a key achievement in Chhattisgarh’s 25-year journey of development. While Raipur has long been connected to major cities by air, smaller cities such as Bastar, Bilaspur, and Ambikapur have also started to benefit from flight services. The establishment of an airport and regular flights from Jagdalpur, the headquarters of the Bastar division, has opened new opportunities for the region.

The Maa Danteshwari Airport in Jagdalpur holds historical significance. It was constructed in 1939 during the British era and was known as “Jahaj Bhata.” In 2017, the Airport Authority of India began upgrading the facility under the central government’s UDAN scheme. By 2019, it was upgraded to a 3-C category airport, enabling it to handle ATR-72 aircraft. In 2020, the Chhattisgarh government renamed the airport after Maa Danteshwari, the revered goddess of Bastar.

Regular commercial flights from Jagdalpur to Raipur and Hyderabad began in September 2020 with Alliance Air. Subsequently, services to Delhi, Jabalpur, and Bilaspur were also initiated. Indigo Airlines started a daily service connecting Jagdalpur with Hyderabad and Raipur in March 2024. A special Delhi service for paramilitary forces is also operational.

To date, approximately three lakh passengers have travelled by air from Jagdalpur airport. The connectivity has not only benefited local residents but has also led to significant improvements in trade, tourism, education, and healthcare. Seriously ill patients can now be transported quickly to major cities for advanced treatment. Students and young professionals can also travel easily to big cities for higher education and employment.

Bastar’s handicrafts, forest produce, and herbal products now have better access to major markets across the country. Likewise, tourist destinations such as Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls, Kanger Valley National Park, and the historical Bastar Dussehra festival have become more accessible to domestic and international tourists.

The Jagdalpur airport is proving to be a new gateway for Bastar’s development. It is bringing modern amenities to the internal areas of the region and is helping Bastar gain a new identity on the national stage. In the future, this airport is expected to become an important hub for the region’s economic and social progress.