Rourkela Airport: History & Nearest Important Places
Rourkela Airport is a domestic airport located in the west of Rourkela. The airport is also used mainly by the officials of the Steel Authority of India.
Introduction of Rourkela Airport: After the introduction of the Rourkela plant, the Government decided to build an Airstrip that was not functional until the year the 1960s. The Air Strip was under the sole control of the government. In the year 1991, the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) got control of the Rourkela Air Strip. Many times, VIP and VVIP flights have landed here and in clear words, normal flights have not started here so it is inaccessible to the normal public. There are talks among the officials and the government and soon we can hope that public air services will be available from and to Rourkela Airport.
History of Rourkela Airport
The history of Rourkela Airport started in the year 1961 when the small airport was taken over by the Airport Authority of India. They started to build a small aerodrome at that spot. In the initial days, Vayudoot planes which were very famous at that time used to fly from Ranchi and Kolkata via Rourkela. These flights were scheduled daily. However, as time passed by, Vayudoot Airlines went into a huge loss and because of heavy losses and lots of debts, the company had to slow down its operations, and the air services at Rourkela were also stopped.
Here comes the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) who took over the control of the whole Rourkela Airport and this is when all the flights to and from the Rourkela airport stopped. From that time onwards, the Rourkela Airport is only used for important persons and private planes.
Places to visit near Rourkela Airport
Indira Gandhi Park
Located near the Rourkela Airport, Indira Gandhi Part is a famous tourist attraction which is a spectacular park surrounded by lush greenery and many activities. The place is a perfect location to spend some quality time with your family and kids. Kids also enjoy the Toy Train activity and you can also find their rose garden, a Japanese garden, colorful fishes, and a mini zoo that has any type of animals.
Jagannath Temple
Another tourist attraction near the location is Jagannath Temple which is devoted to lord Jagannath. It is also a sacred place for many people. Built in the year 1975, this temple is fully white and you can also get to see great architectural work here. Visit here for some peace, serenity, and calmness.