Air service to resume from 15 August

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 4: Cooch Behar Airport may start functioning again on and from 15 August. Welcoming the news, Cooch Behar District Left Front convenor Mr Chandi Pal hoped that this time the Airport Authority of India (AAI) might keep their promise. He said he had talks with the state chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and he too assured of the resumption of the air service. District magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha too said that he heard about the AAI's initiative. He assured co-operation to resume the air service through Cooch Behar Airport.

 

Mr Pal said recently the members of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) demonstrated at the airport. At that time the officials assured them that the long awaited air service is going to resume on and from 15 August. Secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid said, "We came to know that the service will be along Dum Dum – Cooch Behar – Guwahati and vice versa. Authorities of Air Deccan, Spice Jet and some other airlines expressed their interest in flights in this route".

 

On the otherhand, hearing for demolishing and downsizing of forty-two buildings and constructions existing around Cooch Behar Airport started today. Twenty holders were called but only two representatives appeared on behalf of the official bungalows of SP and DFO. The hearing will be continued for three days.

 

Yesterday, a team of AAI officials including general manager (operation) of eastern region Mr Ranjan Dasgupta and senior manager of air traffic control Mr Sandip Chatterjee arrived in Cooch Behar. They inquired about available infrastructure and problems for resuming flights at Cooch Behar Airport. They also examined whether any problem may arise due to existence of railway track and level crossing adjacent to the airport. Possible problems after resuming of train service along the Alipurduar-Bamanhat railway route that being converted into broad-gauge is also under examination.

 

Cooch Behar Airport sources said that executive director of AAI's eastern region Mr SP Bukshi recently conveyed the local authority of the airport that air service may resume on 15 August if things go well. Now it is upto completion of the hearing in a right manner and demolition and downsizing of forty-two constructions. Meanwhile, the length of the airport was extended by 60-metre to make it 1117-metre. []

  

Stolen car recovered, 2 nabbed

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 4: Cooch Behar Kotowali Police seized a Tata Indica car and arrested two persons from Cooch Behar town last night. The car was stolen from Delhi on 13 January of this year. It was registered in Cooch Behar in February with forged documents. The actual owner of the car was informed of the recovery. Another two stolen vehicles were seized recently. Police are trying to identify the members of the interstate gang of car lifters active in this region. []