Maa Mahamaya Airport

Maa Mahamaya Airport
IATA: AHA ICAO: VEAP
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	State Government of Chattisgarh
Operator	State Government of Chattisgarh
Serves	Ambikapur
Location	Darima, Chhattisgarh, India
Elevation AMSL	1,930 ft / 588 m
Coordinates	22°59′14.1″N 83°11′46.1″E
Map
Ambikapur Airport Location of the airport in Chhattisgarh Show map of Chhattisgarh Ambikapur Airport Ambikapur Airport (India) Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 16/34 6,299 1,920 asphalt

Maa Mahamaya Airport (earlier Darima Airport) or Ambikapur Airport is located at Darima, 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Ambikapur, in Chhattisgarh, India.^[1] The airport serves Ambikapur, one of the major city of Chhattisgarh state. It also serves the nearby towns like Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Bhatgaon, Mainpat, Sitapur, Bishrampur, Balrampur, Ramanujganj, etc. therefore this airport provides air connectivity to entire Northern Chhattisgarh. The airport will connect Jabalpur, New Delhi, Kolkata and Prayagraj and is expected to boost development and offer employment opportunities to locals.^[2]

History

The airstrip in Darima area near Ambikapur was constructed in 1950. Then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited the airstrip in 1974.^[3] The airstrip was used for small aircraft and helicopters primarily for VIP visits.

The name of airport was changed from Darima Airport to "Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur" on 30 March 2021,^[4] In the name of Maa Mahamaya (Ambika Devi), the goddess of Ambikapur city.^[5]

Upgradation

The airstrip upgrade work was finished in May 2023 at a cost of Rs. 48 crore from category 2C to 3C,^[6] to enable operations of 70-72 seater aircraft under UDAN Scheme. Making this the Fourth Public Serving Airport in Chhattisgarh after Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur.^[7]

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  Ambikapur Airport
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  Airport Entry
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  Rear View
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  Parking and Landscaping
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  Runway view

Airlines and destinations

FlyBig Airlines Company has started its operation on 19 December 2024. These operations are currently serve From Ambikapur to Raipur, Raipur to Ambikapur, Ambikapur to Bilaspur, Bilaspur to Ambikapur three days a week i.e on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Operational status

Upgrades of the airport were completed in May 2023. The first test flight landed on 4 May 2023 by the Aviation authority. After approval of DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), flights to Delhi, Varanasi, and Raipur are proposed.^[8]

DGCA team inspected Ambikapur Airport on 15/05/2023.^[9] The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the aerodrome license for Ambikapur airport in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district on 15/03/2024 to start flight operations^[10]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the airport on October 20, 2024.^[11]

References

1. "Unserved Airports" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
2. Bharat, E. T. V. (20 October 2024). "PM Modi Virtually Inaugurates Airport In Surguja; Common Man Can Now Board Flight in Slippers, Says CM Sai". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
3. "Chhattisgarh: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visits Mahamaya Airport runway to inspect finished work". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
4. "दरिमा एयरपोर्ट का बदल गया नाम, अब इस नाम से जाना जाएगा | Airport: Now Darima Airport will be known by Maa Mahamaya airport". Patrika News (in Hindi). 3 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
5. "Ambikapur Mahamaya Temple - History, Timings, Accommodations, Puja". RVA Temples. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
6. "Chhattisgarh: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visits Mahamaya Airport runway to inspect finished work". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
7. "Chhattisgarh to get second airport at Raigarh". The Times of India. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
8. "Chhattisgarh: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visits Mahamaya Airport runway to inspect finished work". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
9. Ambikapur के Darima Airport पहुंची DGCA की टीम | रनवे, टर्मिनल और निर्माणकार्यों का ले रहे जायजा, 15 May 2023, retrieved 31 May 2023
10. "DGCA licenses Ambikapur airport, opens gateway for air travel in northern Chhattisgarh". The Telegraph. 29 September 2024. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
11. "PM Modi: पीएम मोदी 20 अक्टूबर को करेंगे मां महामाया एयरपोर्ट का वर्चुअल उद्घाटन, यहां तैयारी शुरु | PM Modi will virtually inaugurate Ambikapur Airport on 20 October". Patrika News (in Hindi). 15 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.