Biju Patnaik plane is moved in three trucks a large crowd gathers

A sizable throng gathers as three trucks are used to transport Biju Patnaik's jet. Almost a dozen Dakotas were flown by Kalinga Airlines, which Biju Patnaik formed and based in Kolkata. Hundreds of people were observed today gathering along the National Highway that runs between Kolkata and Bhubaneswar to catch a glimpse of the Dakota plane that renowned leader Biju Patnaik once flew.

Early this morning, three cars transporting the plane's disassembled components crossed the Odisha-West Bengal border at the Laxmannath toll booth and arrived in Jaleswar.

The vehicles are expected to arrive in the state capital by the evening while being escorted by the Odisha Police. The disassembled Dakota (DC-3) VT-AUI aircraft will be put back together and placed at a specific location at the international airport.

The international airport here, named after Biju Patnaik, the father of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, will see the reconstructed Dakota (DC-3) VT-AUI aircraft before it is placed in a designated location. On the grounds of Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, the plane was abandoned for many years. The plane was around 64 feet 8 inches in length and weighed about 8 tonnes.

After the lorries transporting the disassembled pieces arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha government has hired a specialised team to put them back together. At the BPIA in Bhubaneswar, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has designated 1.1 acres of land for this use.

Almost a dozen Dakotas were flown by Kalinga Airlines, which Biju Patnaik formed and based in Kolkata. According to Prasanna Pradhan, the director of Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), the aircraft has endured significant wear and tear over time.

According to historian Anil Dhir, Biju Patnaik loved Dakota aeroplanes. Mr. Dhir said that in April 1947, Biju Patnaik saved Sutan Sjahrir, the then-prime minister of Indonesia, using a Dakota aeroplane.

Biju Patnaik was twice awarded the "Bhumiputra," the highest civilian accolade, by a grateful Indonesia.The historian said that he secretly flew Indian freedom fighters from one place to another.