Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7 -- The Steel City of Rourkela has finally joined the aviation map of Odisha with the launch of the much-awaited commercial flight operations on Saturday.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated the first direct flight to Rourkela from Bhubaneswar through video conferencing. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MP Aparajita Sarangi flagged off the service.

Rourkela, which is hosting the Men's Hockey World Cup 2023, became the fourth city in the State to have scheduled flights after Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda and Jeypore.

Speaking about the inauguration of the direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia wrote, "This route, being star...