Bagdogra airport to begin night operations before Puja

Flight services at night will start at Jalpaiguri’s Bagdogra airport soon.

According to sources at the airport, the night operation is set to commence before Durga Puja this year.

However, the infrastructure related issues of the airport will soon be sorted out, the source confirmed.

The infrastructure development of the Bagdogra airport had been stuck for a while due to legal issues. But the state government has already arranged 80 cottah for the added infrastructure.

“We have talked to the settlers there. They are convinced to release the place by receiving adequate money,” said the source, adding that the settlers will receive their cheques by August 25.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed us to start flight operations at night at Bagdogra airport. We have left no stone unturned to start the service at the earliest. The operation will commence soon,” said North Bengal Development minister Rabindranath Ghosh. “We had a fruitful discussion with settlers there,” the minister added.

In the wake of the nod from the Air Force and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to extend flight landing at Bagdogra airport at night, the state government had earlier sent a letter to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India authorities, urging them to operate two-way Air India flights between Bagdogra and Kolkata.

A plan has also been thought over to set up pre-paid taxi booths and a separate police station for the Bagdogra airport, similar to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport police station in Kolkata.

Sources at the state secretariat said that some private airlines have expressed interest in operating flights to the Himalayan range.