Bhubaneswar: The Civil Aviation Ministry has rejected request of the Odisha government to declare the Grand Road (Bada Danda) in Puri as ‘no-flying zone’ during the Rath Yatra beginning July 14.
Puri Superintendent of Police Sarthak Sarangi said the Civil Aviation Ministry in a letter has made it very clear that the request cannot be considered as this is an international flying route.
The Civil Aviation Ministry, however, stated that there was no threat to Grand Road as the overseas passenger jets fly at a height of 35,000 feet above sea level, which will not pose any danger during the Rath Yatra. Sarangi also informed that Civil Aviation Ministry in its reply said that any plane flying at a height of 10,000 feet, the pilot has to give the signal to the nearest airport, which is Bhubaneswar International Airport.