CII wants 'Siliguri' written in Bagdogra air tickets

SNS, 31 July 2019, SILIGURI : The Chairman of the West Bengal State Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Vijay Dewan. has urged the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Pradeep Singh Kharola, to name 'Siliguri' instead of 'Bagdogra' in air tickets. According to him, the ministry can follow what is being practiced in issuing tickets for other destinations across the country.

In a letter to Mr Kharola, Mr Dewan has urged him to rename the tickets as 'IXB Siliguri' and not 'IXB Bagdogra' as is the practice presently. Citing examples, Mr Dewan said that though the location of the airport in Kolkata DumDum, the ticket is issued as 'IXB Kolkata' and not IXB DumDum.' "Similarly Palam is the exact location of the airport, but it is 'New Delhi' in the ticket and not 'Palam.'

"The objective is to promote Siliguri for its strategic location and importance and to inform people about Siliguri as the gateway to the North East," Mr Dewan said.

Notably, Bagdogra in Siliguri sub-division in Darjeeling is connected with two other states of Bihar and Sikkim and other countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Mr Dewan described Bagdogra Airport as the second -busiest airport in West Bengal and important for tourism and business traffic for Darjeeling, Sikkim and North Bengal.

"It s also important for pilgrims headed for Mansarovar through the NathuLa Pass. It has great potential if it is included in the Buddhist Circuit as it connects the countries of Nepal, Bhutan and-Bangladesh," the CII said.