Bhubaneswar, Jan 20: The direct flight service between Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar) and Dubai will be suspended from March next year. While the airport authorities and the Ministry of Transportation have yet to provide an official clarification, Odisha's expatriates in Dubai have expressed concerns over the matter.

In response to this development, several Odia expatriates have written a letter to Anu Garg, the Chief Secretary of Odisha, urging the government to prevent the cancellation of the flight service. They have raised concerns about the difficulties faced by the approximately 40,000 Odia residents in Dubai, many of whom benefited from the convenience of this direct flight.

The suspension of the flight service is expected to lead to significant hardships for the expatriates, who would now have to face additional travel burdens. Furthermore, they have expressed concerns over the potential negative impact on tourism and investments in Odisha.

The direct flight service had been operating three times a week, providing ease of travel for Odias in Dubai and fostering stronger connections between the two regions. The letter emphasizes the importance of maintaining the service to support both the Odia community and the state's economy.