Yatri Subidha Divas observed with Enthusiasm at Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda: Veer Surendra Sai (V.S.S.) Airport, Jharsuguda, successfully celebrated Yatri Suvidha Diwas, executing a sweeping array of passenger-centric initiatives, green campaigns, and community outreach programs designed to strengthen ties with the communities of Western Odisha. Spearheaded by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the day-long event seamlessly highlighted the airport’s remarkable 12-year transformation from a non-operational airstrip into a high-efficiency regional aviation hub, keeping customer satisfaction and operational excellence at its core. The celebration commenced at the arrival gates, where inbound travellers were greeted with a traditional Tika ceremony by dedicated airport welcome teams to honour regional hospitality. Shorty after, the terminal’s Security Hold Area (SHA) served as the stage for a powerful patriotic assembly, bringing together personnel from the AAI, CISF, State Police, Customs, and commercial airline partners for a unified choral singing of the National Song, Vande Mataram.
Recognizing that an airport’s success relies heavily on its frontline workforce, the administration hosted official appreciation ceremonies during the event. Special commendations were presented to honour the hard work of the housekeeping staff and Safai Karamcharis who maintain the airport’s pristine aesthetics, alongside a dedicated program celebrating the vital contributions of the diverse women workforce pioneering various sectors within civil aviation-including airline check-in counters, security, and emergency services. Concurrently, V.S.S. Airport advanced its commitment to environmental sustainability by launching a comprehensive “Plastic-Free World” awareness campaign alongside energy- saving showcases. This eco-friendly drive was paired with a large-scale tree plantation initiative in neighbouring and remote areas, bringing together local school and college students, district forest officials, and the direct distribution of saplings to transit passengers. The airport also functioned as a vital hub for civic welfare and youth inspiration throughout the day. To support the local community, a complimentary medical camp was established inside the terminal to offer free baseline health parameters (such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and BMI) for travellers, while a specialized clinic provided critical eye-testing for local airport taxi drivers. For the next generation of innovators, the airport organized interactive educational walk-throughs for regional students, opening specialized counters for career counselling in aviation alongside competitive quizzes, essays, and painting contests. Addressing the press during the formal media debriefing, the Airport Director emphasized how advanced Air Traffic Management innovations, corporate citizenship, and digital outreach-including the premiere of several subtitled short films and social media influencer campaigns are collectively positioning V.S.S. Airport as a modern, world-class industrial gateway.
