OpenOdisha is not an organisation. It exists to ensure Odisha's global interests don't go unrepresented — a collection of entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, academics, students and professionals who act when there's something concrete to push for. No posts, no politics.
This is Initiative #1. If Odisha's global case is one you'd push for — add your name to the ones who do.
Eight agreements were signed when Singapore's President visited Odisha in January 2025. In June 2026, the Chief Minister proposed a mechanism to accelerate them. The direct flight had been gone since April. Odisha's most active strategic partnership now requires a layover. We are asking the Government to fix that.
Four reasons the Government of Odisha should restore this connection.
In January 2025, Singapore's President visited Odisha with a business delegation. Eight agreements were exchanged — spanning industrial development, green energy, urban planning, fintech, skills and education. In June 2026, CM Majhi proposed a Structured Engagement Mechanism to accelerate implementation of strategic partnerships with Singapore. The relationship is active. Active relationships require reliable connectivity.
In January 2026, the Odisha Cabinet approved continued financial support for the direct Bhubaneswar–Singapore service, recognising Singapore as strategically important for trade, investment and institutional collaboration. The State has already made this call. We are not asking for an indefinite commitment — we are asking it to be restored on a time-limited basis, with commercial performance reviewed at agreed intervals, so the route has a credible path to standalone viability.
Odisha Cabinet, January 2026Bhubaneswar and Singapore are already connected — through the Odisha–GFTN fintech hub, NUS and ITEES partnerships, Sembcorp's energy projects, and a growing calendar of bilateral engagements. Without a direct flight, every trip now requires a connection through Chennai or Mumbai, adding hours of friction to relationships that are already live. The digital corridor is real. The air link should be too.
The cost of VGF support is modest within Odisha’s aviation programme — and the ask is time-limited. The goal is to give the route enough runway to establish commercial viability, not to sustain it indefinitely. The returns compound over years: institutions able to move between both cities, businesses with direct access, and Odisha staying connected to one of Asia’s most important financial and technology hubs. The partnerships are already in place. The air link should follow.
Subject: Restoration of the Bhubaneswar–Singapore direct air service
We are professionals, entrepreneurs and academics — based in India, Singapore and beyond — with a shared stake in Odisha's future. We write with one specific and achievable request: restore direct air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Singapore.
The case for this route has strengthened considerably since it was first launched.
In January 2025, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited Odisha, accompanied by a business delegation. Eight agreements were exchanged across areas including industrial development, green energy, urban planning, fintech, skills and education. Singapore-linked institutions have continued to deepen their engagement with Odisha since.
In June 2026, your government described Singapore as a natural partner in Odisha's journey and proposed a Structured Engagement Mechanism to facilitate investment proposals and strategic partnerships.
Yet direct Bhubaneswar–Singapore air service is no longer operating.
The Government of Odisha has already recognised the strategic importance of this connectivity. In January 2026, the State Cabinet approved continued financial support for the Bhubaneswar–Singapore route. Public reporting on that decision said future continuation or modification would be reviewed based on route viability and passenger demand.
We recognise that the Singapore route has faced commercial and operational challenges. We are therefore not asking for an indefinite subsidy. We respectfully ask the Government of Odisha to restore VGF support for a defined period under the appropriate state aviation framework, with periodic review of route performance and passenger demand, and to engage IndiGo and other eligible operators on resuming a minimum twice-weekly non-stop Bhubaneswar–Singapore service.
Any restored route should be paired with deliberate demand-building: business and institutional travel generated by Odisha–Singapore partnerships, tourism promotion, diaspora traffic and coordination around the growing calendar of bilateral engagements.
Singapore is more than another international destination. It is one of Asia's leading financial, technology and aviation hubs, and a gateway to Southeast Asia and onward global markets. Odisha's connection with that region is centuries old. Today, the case for restoring it is economic and strategic.
The Odisha–Singapore relationship is already operational. We respectfully ask the Government to restore the direct connectivity that will help it fulfil its potential.
Respectfully,
The signatories of OpenOdisha
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