Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 25 : Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday accorded a warm welcome to President Draupadi Murmu at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
The president is on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh and will attend the convocation of AIIMS and NIT in the capital Raipur on Friday.
On October 25, the President will grace the 2nd convocation of AIIMS, Raipur. On the same day, she will also grace the 14th convocation of NIT, Raipur and visit the Purkhauti Muktangan at Naya Raipur.
On October 26, the President will grace the 4th convocation of IIT, Bhilai. She will also grace the 3rd convocation of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Health Science and Ayush University of Chhattisgarh at Raipur.
President Murmu will also release the 9th instalment amount to 70 lakh women under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana of the Chhattisgarh government. She will also visit Lord Jagannath Temple in Raipur on Saturday (October 26).
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Maa Mahamaya airport in Darima village of Chhattisgarh's Surguja district.
According to a government release, this air, service is expected to usher in a new chapter for millions in Surguja and nearby districts such as Jashpur, Surajpur, Balrampur, Korea, and Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur. Residents will now have easier access to major cities across the country, offering a more cost-effective and time-saving travel option.
The airport now connects the remote tribal district of Surguja with air services to the rest of the country, the release mentioned.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Governor Ramen Deka, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, and several other dignitaries were present at the inauguration.
Speaking on occasion, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the airport marks a historic moment for the region and will be providing employment and connectivity to mainstream regions for the people.
The upgrade of the airstrip at Maa Mahamaya Airport in Ambikapur was carried out under the Government of India's Regional Connectivity Scheme. The airport spans 365 acres and was constructed for Rs 80 crores. It is classified as a 3C VFR category airport, capable of accommodating 72-seater aircraft. The terminal building has been expanded to cater to an estimated capacity of 500,000 passengers annually, as per the release.