IndiGo will launch flights between Bagdogra and Bhubaneswar with a stopover at Andal in south Bengal on August 30.
Sources in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the private airline would operate the flights four days a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
“IndiGo will be the first airline to connect Bagdogra with Durgapur, the second major airport in south Bengal. The service will be convenient for passengers travelling to Bagdogra from Bhubaneswar and vice-versa. Currently, they need to board flights at Calcutta or other places to travel between Bhubaneswar and Bagdogra,” a source in the AAI said on Wednesday.
The Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal is situated near Durgapur.
The flight will leave Bhubaneswar at 11.15am and land in Durgapur at 12.55pm. It will then take off at 1.15pm and reach Bagdogra at 2.20pm.
The flight will return from Bagdogra at 2.55pm and reach Durgapur at 4.05pm. From there, it will leave at 4.35pm and land in Bhubaneswar at 6.15pm.
“It is an important development as people intending to visit north Bengal from Durgapur, Asansol and neighbouring areas can take flights. So far, they were mostly dependent on trains We expect it will turn out to be a popular service in due course,” said Raj Basu, a veteran in the tourism industry of north Bengal.
Samrat Sanyal, the general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network, an apex body of people associated with tourism in this region, said the service to Bhubaneswar would also boost connectivity between Odisha and
north Bengal.
“The new flight will help people of north Bengal reach Bhubaneswar. Puri, a favourite hotspot of Bengali tourists, is just an hour away. Also, many students from north Bengal study in Odisha and they can avail the flight. We also expect more tourists to turn up in our region from Odisha,” he said.
Sikkim minister
Tshering T. Bhutia, the tourism minister of Sikkim, visited the tourist information centre of his state at the Bagdogra airport on Wednesday while departing for an official trip to Chennai.
He interacted with the staff posted at the centre and assured them that the state would provide all possible support to enhance the centre’s operation.
Uber counter
On Tuesday, a counter for Uber India cab was opened at the Bagdogra airport. The counter, airport sources said, will make cab booking and travel easier for passengers at the airport.
