Odisha govt approves Rs 4,182 crore ‘B-MAAN’ scheme to boost aviation sector

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a Rs 4,182-crore scheme titled Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network (B-MAAN) to accelerate the growth of the state’s aviation sector. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday.

The B-MAAN scheme aims to position Odisha as a major aviation hub in eastern India under the vision “Samastanka Pain Biman Seba” (Aviation for All). It seeks to unify various aspects of aviation development—ranging from infrastructure to modernisation—under one comprehensive framework.

According to an official statement, the five-year plan (2025–2030) will focus on developing, upgrading, and maintaining both greenfield and brownfield airports and heliports across the state. The scheme will promote regional air connectivity by offering Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and other incentives to airlines, linking tier-II and tier-III cities with major hubs under the UDAN initiative and similar programmes.

A key component of B-MAAN is the establishment of a strong maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) ecosystem in Odisha. World-class MRO facilities are proposed at Biju Patnaik International Airport and other key locations to attract private investment and enhance self-reliance in aviation maintenance.

The scheme will also encourage futuristic technologies such as drones, seaplanes, e-VTOL aircraft and aerospace manufacturing, aligning Odisha with the national goals of green mobility and advanced aviation innovation.

To boost trade and logistics, B-MAAN will strengthen air cargo infrastructure supporting agricultural exports, industrial freight, and time-sensitive goods, thereby integrating Odisha into national and global supply chains.

The Commerce and Transport Department, the nodal agency for the scheme, said B-MAAN will create large-scale employment through aviation-focused skill development and training. Specialised programmes will be launched for pilots, technicians and ground staff — with a focus on increasing opportunities for women in aviation — in collaboration with industry partners.

(with agency inputs)