By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, Mach 5, 2016 : Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated an Aviation Re-fuelling Centre of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) in Rourkela Steel City.

Earlier, Odisha had only one Aviation Re-fuelling Centre here.

“I am fortunate that on this eventful day when Odisha is celebrating the birth centenary of legendary leader and son-of-the-soil Biju Patnaik, an aviation re-fuelling centre has been set up by IOCL in Rourkela city, which had a close relationship with the Late leader. The centre would help in the industrialization of Rourkela and its peripheral areas while the denizens of this area would also be immensely benefited,” Pradhan told media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration.

He also complimented local MLA Dilip Ray and union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram for their initiatives for setting up of this Centre.

Union Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha was also present on the occasion.

This is the 100th Aviation Re-fuelling Centre of IOCL which will help in operation of long-distance flights from Rourkela.

The flights which were earlier filling up fuel at Ranchi and Bhubaneswar, would now get the facility in Rourkela too.