The air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata will resume soon, a senior minister has said.

State Forest Minister Hiten Barman said he spoke with the State Transport Department’s Secretary, B. P. Gopalika on the issue and was told that the air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata via Bagdogra would commence soon.

The air service will encourage tourists from the country and abroad to visit north Bengal.

According to a new plan, a small aircraft will be deployed on the route. The helicopter, planned earlier, could carry 11 passengers only, but the aircraft would carry 18 passengers, he said.

Cooch Behar MP Nripendra Nath Roy said he had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha at least 12 times. He also drew the attention of the Union Civil Aviation Minister to reintroducing the air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata.

“I will raise the issue again in the next session of Parliament which will commence on November 21,” he said.

Criticising the Trinamool Congress-led State Government, the Forward Bloc MP said the Government promised that the long abandoned air service will be resumed before the puja festival but they had failed.

The General Secretary of the Cooch Behar District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rajendra Kumar Baid, said they have sent a memorandum to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh urging him to revive the Cooch Behar airport.

The CM had announced in July that assistance of Rs 25 crore would be extended to widen the runway of the Cooch Behar Airport. On July 25, a two-member team from The Pavanhans Helicopter Ltd visited Cooch Behar Airport and expressed satisfaction with its infrastructure.

On September 11, the State Transport Department inked an agreement with Pavanhans Helicopter Ltd over flights between Cooch Behar and Kolkata via Bagdogra. It was then assured that the service may revive before the pujas but it is yet to gain momentum.

comment COMMENT NOW