Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on 31 August, 2023 inaugurated Utkela airport in Odisha, which has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme.

The Utkela-Bhubaneswar-Utkela flight route is set to improve regional air connectivity and spur economic growth within the area. The distance will be covered in just one hour and twenty minutes and the economic activities will open up employment prospects, as infomed by the Minister. 

The flights will be facilitated by nine-seater Cessna C-208 aircraft. Utkela airport has a runway of length 917 mtrs. (2,995 ft.) with a width of 30 mtrs. 

With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha will now have five airports. The connection between Kalahandi and Bhubaneswar, along with other cities in the state would lead to enhanced development.

Approx. Rs 31 crore was invested by the Central government in the redevelopment of the Utkela airport.