Govt push on Bagdogra

SNS, Kolkata, 4 July: The state government has  asked several airlines to start night landing immediately at Bagdogra airport, transport minister Mr Madan Mitra said today at Writers' Buildings.

He said officials of some airlines including Spice Jet, Air India, Indigo, Jet Airways and Go Air  had been sounded out on trial run and night landing at Bagdogra airport. "Airlines officials are  glad that the state government has taken the initiative on night landing ," he pointed out. 

Airline officials said that they would guage market needs and try to start night landing immediately.  Mr Alapan Bandhopadhaya, principal secretary of the transport department said discussions took place on flights from Bagdogra to Middle East, Paro and other overseas destinations. He said the chief secretary  had already sent a letter to chairman cum managing director of Air India urging him to start a flight between 7 and 8 in the evening from Bagdogra to Kolkata. Mr Mitra said the government requested  airlines officials explore the possibility of commencing flight operations from Cooch Behar. Officials wanted to know whether the state would give any fiscal concessions for such operations .