Bhubaneswar: The Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference is scheduled for tomorrow (August 25, 2025) at the MAYFAIR Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar. The event will bring together Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, State Ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders to discuss strategies for enhancing the civil aviation sector in Eastern India.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. The conference will be inaugurated by Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, who will also deliver the keynote address. Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, will participate in the inaugural session.
The programme will commence with a welcome address by Madhu Sudana Sankar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. This will be followed by a states’ perspective presentation from Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department.
Key themes for discussion include airport and heliport development models, the UDAN scheme and regional connectivity, skill development in aviation, expansion of the drone ecosystem, and the future of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). One-on-one sessions with delegations from the six participating states will highlight region-specific priorities and policy support. Concurrent industry interactions will explore investment opportunities, public-private partnerships, and collaboration within the aviation ecosystem.
Delegates from Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Odisha will actively participate. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) will also attend, ensuring a comprehensive platform for dialogue and decision-making.
The plenary session will feature opening remarks by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, followed by special addresses from Om Prakash Choudhary, Minister from Chhattisgarh, and Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Minister of Commerce & Transport. The conference will conclude with a closing keynote by Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, outlining the Government of India’s vision for enhancing regional connectivity, modernizing aviation infrastructure, and promoting innovation in drones and emergency air services in Eastern India.
By hosting this landmark conference, Odisha reaffirms its position as an emerging aviation hub and a key contributor to India’s civil aviation growth.
