Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav to Launch ‘PM Shri Air Tourism Helicopter Service’ on State Foundation Day
Madhya Pradesh Becomes the First State in the Country to Establish Intra-State Air Connectivity
Tourism in Madhya Pradesh to Take a New Flight on the 70th Foundation Day
Regular Operations to Commence from November 20 Across Three Sectors
Service to Begin under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model by MP Tourism Board
Enhanced Travel Convenience for Tourists to Give Tourism a New Dimension
Bhopal:
On the occasion of Madhya Pradesh’s 70th Foundation Day, the state is set to receive a remarkable gift in the tourism sector. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the ‘PM Shri Air Tourism Helicopter Service’ on November 1, 2025, at the Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal.
The inaugural event will be graced by the presence of Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust & Endowment Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi. Following the flag-off ceremony by the Chief Minister, all three helicopters will depart for Ujjain. Regular operations of the helicopter service will commence from November 20, 2025.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust & Endowment Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi stated that the ‘PM Shri Air Tourism Helicopter Service’ is being launched by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department with the objective of strengthening air connectivity between major tourist destinations within the state. He added that the service, initiated under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will give a new impetus to tourism in Madhya Pradesh, making travel faster, more convenient, and more memorable for visitors.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture, Home, and Religious Trusts & Endowments, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, said that Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to operate intra-state air connectivity. He added that the ‘PM Shri Air Tourism Helicopter Service’ will make travel between major religious, wildlife, and natural tourism destinations more accessible and appealing. This initiative will open a new dimension for tourism in Madhya Pradesh, giving a distinctive identity to the state’s adventure, heritage, and spiritual tourism, while enriching the overall travel experience of domestic and international tourists alike.
The ‘PM Shri Air Tourism Helicopter Service’ will operate five days a week in each sector. For operational management, a three-year contract has been signed with M/s Trans Bharat Aviation for Sector 1, and with M/s Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd. for Sector 2 and Sector 3. In the initial phase, private operators will operate helicopters with a minimum capacity of six passenger seats in each sector.
Helicopter Service Sectors:
Sector 1: Indore – Ujjain – Omkareshwar
Sector 2: Bhopal – Madhai – Pachmarhi
Sector 3: Jabalpur – Bandhavgarh – Kanha