Kamal Ghorui
Patna: The UDAN Yatri Cafe and upgraded high-speed WiFi services were officially launched on Sunday at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna. Union minister of civil aviation, Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, virtually inaugurated the facilities.The UDAN Yatri Cafe is a flagship initiative of the ministry of civil aviation, implemented in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It aims to offer quality snacks and beverages at pocket-friendly prices, making air travel more accessible and comfortable for passengers from all backgrounds.Alongside the cafe, the airport has introduced enhanced WiFi infrastructure. This upgrade delivers seamless, high-speed internet connectivity, allowing travellers to stay connected, work, or entertain themselves more conveniently during their time at the terminal.During his address, the minister underscored the role of airports in boosting logistics and regional connectivity as the country advances towards its goal of becoming a developed nation. He noted that the total number of airports in the country has grown from 74 to 165, extending air travel beyond major metros to smaller cities and towns.Naidu highlighted the impact of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which has expanded aviation infrastructure to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, promoting inclusive growth in the civil aviation sector. He also praised digital enhancements like free WiFi for improving the overall passenger experience and lauded initiatives such as the UDAN Yatri Cafe for ensuring affordable services for common travellers.Meanwhile, IndiGo’s inaugural flight on the new Navi Mumbai-Patna-Navi Mumbai route was accorded a spectacular water cannon salute upon its arrival at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport on Sunday. This special ceremony, a traditional aviation tribute, featured fire tenders creating majestic arcs of water as the aircraft taxied in, celebrating the launch of the first-ever direct air link between Patna and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).Flight 6E 2043 touched down at Patna airport at 2.06pm, with 124 passengers on board, while the departing flight for Navi Mumbai took off at 2.56pm with 169 passengers. The city airport now has direct connectivity with 14 different sectors across the country.The full night operation has also started at Patna airport with the commencement of the Pune-Patna flight at 2am. Flight 6E-126 departed for Pune at 2.55am.
