Kolkata: With the Mamata Banerjee government waiving the tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), Bagdogra Airport has witnessed a record increase of passengers by 53 percent in April-December in 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016.
In 2016, around 10.61 lakh passengers had availed flight services from April to December. The figure has gone up to 16.28 lakh, which is around an increase of 53 percent.
The month of December in 2017 has also witnessed an increase in number of passengers. In December 2017, around 2.03 lakh people availed flight services from Bagdogra Airport.
The figure in the corresponding month in 2016 was only 1.45 lakh. The increase in number of passengers came despite the fact that December records the least passenger load compared to other months in a year.
The number of passengers increased during the period of April to October in 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016. While there were around 12,48,611 passengers in 2017, it was 7,83,197 in 2016.
According to experts, the policy of waiving tax on ATF and the state government's role in developing infrastructure and promoting tourist spots in North Bengal are the main reasons behind the gradual increase in number of passengers.
Moreover, the number of passengers is expected to cross 2.2 million in 2017-18 financial year.
It may be recalled that in May 2017, the monthly passenger load at the airport had crossed the mark of 2 lakh for the first time and the airport had crossed the benchmark to be declared as a "Major Airport" with more than 1.5 million passengers in April 2016-17.
Now, a large number of people visit the tourist spots in North Bengal round-the-year availing different facilities that have come up in the region.
The state government is taking more steps to further improve the infrastructure and at present the situation in Darjeeling has also returned to normalcy allowing tourists to visit the place.