COOCH BEHAR AIRPORT

Reactions over Mamata's Airport promise

Sharp reactions came from different political corners over the Chief Minister's promise over revival of Cooch Behar Airport.

The Chief Minister, during her address at a mass gathering at Gumanihat of Mathabhanga sub-division in Cooch Behar district held on Monday, said that she will come to Cooch Behar again boarding a small aeroplane. Till launching of the small aircraft service from Cooch Behar Airport she will not come to Cooch Behar. She said, "We already gave the Centre Rs15 crore out of Rs 30 crore for development of the Airport. We requested them to complete the work very quickly. Landing of airplane is not easy in absence of a wider runway here. Till building up a wide runway small aircrafts will ply from here. We are trying to launch that service. Till launching of that service I will not come to Cooch Behar again. I will come only boarding that small aircraft after launching of the service permanently." Her commitment was welcomed by the gathering amid cheers.

Reacting over the CM's speech, a senior BJP leader in Cooch Behar, Pranab Paul, commented that many times planes came here and those services were closed. "The CM may come and go by aeroplane but we are not sure over its continuation. People of Cooch Behar are not ready to believe in such promises anymore", he said.

Cooch Behar district Congress President, Shyamal Chaudhury opined that the CM is saying many things prior to the election. Air services were revived and closed many times. "We know that the CM's many promises turn to untrue and so we should not comment over her promise on revival of air service from Cooch Behar Airport.

Cooch Behar district CPI-M secretary and ex-MP, Tarini Roy said, “According to the CM’s comment we may be assured that air service will not be revived and she will not come to Cooch Behar again. We have no objection of her daily visit to Cooch Behar, after the re-launching of air service”, Roy said.  

Reacting sharply over Mamata's speech, a senior Forward Bloc leader and MLA, Akshay Thakur, questioned "how many promises of the CM turned true till now". "We heard such promises on several occasions. It may be that it would not be necessary for her to visit Cooch Behar after 2016 elections", he added.

On the otherhand, on behalf of business community, general secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce,  Rajendra Kumar Baid, said that they believe that air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata will be re-launched very soon following the Chief Minister's commitment.