COOCH BEHAR AIRPORT

Cooch Behar-Kolkata air service to resume soon

The abandoned air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata will resume
soon. State Forest Minister Hiten Barman said that he talked with the
state Transport Department's secretary, BP Gopalika over the issue and
came to know that the air service will commence soon between Cooch
Behar and Kolkata via Bagdogra. At the beginning of the tourist season
in this region the air service will encourage tourists of the country
and abroad to visit North Bengal. Barman also said that the earlier
plan to press helicopter service in Cooch Behar –Bagdogra –Kolkata
route has been differed. According to the new plan a small aircraft is
going to fly in this route. The helicopter was to carry 11 passengers
only but the aircraft will carry 18 passengers, he said. The Forest
Minister said the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also trying her
best to revive the air service in this region.

On the otherhand, the Cooch Behar MP, Nripendra Nath Roy said that he
raised the issue at the Lok Sabha at least 12 times. He also drew
attention of the Union Civil Aviation Minister to reintroduce the air
service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. "I will raise the issue again
in the next session of the Parliament that is to commence on 21
November", he said. Criticising the Trinamul Congress led state
government the Forward Bloc MP said that the government promised that
the long abandoned air service will be resumed before the Puja
festival but they failed to translate the promise into reality. It is
nothing but a government of mere promises, Roy commented.

The general secretary of the Cooch Behar District Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, Rajendra Kumar Baid said that they already sent a
memorandum to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh urging him
to revive the Cooch Behar Airport and the air service between Cooch
Behar and Kolkata. They will also organise a mass convention soon in
Cooch Behar over the issue.

It may be recalled here that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
announced in Cooch Behar on 11 July that an assistance of Rs 25-crore
will be extended to widen the runway of the Cooch Behar Airport. On 25
July, a two-member team from The Pavanhans Helicopter Limited visited
Cooch Behar Airport and expressed their satisfaction examining its
infrastructure. On 11 September, the state Transport Department inked
an agreement with the Pavanhans Helicopter Limited over flight between
Cooch Behar and Kolkata via Bagdogra. It was then assured that the
service may revive before the Pujas but it is yet to gain momentum.