Kolkata: The former princely state of
Cooch Behar will be back on the air map after a gap of 16 years and several failed bids with the launch of a commercial flight between the north Bengal town and Kolkata on Tuesday.
Ahead of the launch, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee, who was keen on restarting the air service, said it
has been decided to subsidise the operation.
"Definitely this will soon turn into a profit-making venture," she asserted.
The state government has projected the area to be a
prosperous industrial growth centre and a tourist destination.
Private carrier Northeast Shuttles will operate an 18-seater Dornier aircraft on the route and the fare has been fixed at Rs 5,000.
The state government would provide subsidy by
reserving eight seats per trip, Regional Executive Director of
the Airports Authority of India Goutam Mukherjee said.
PTI
