Cooch Behar, 04th February: The air service from Cooch Behar to Kolkata for an initial fare of Rs 999 is all set to start from February 15. Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik informed about the same after taking a stock of the Cooch Behar airport on Friday. However, later the aircraft will operate with the fixed fare of the airline.
The first air service was started in Cooch Behar during the reign of the Kings in the city. Later, air service was stopped in Cooch Behar for a long time. However, the air service was started again in 2011 after a new government was formed in the state but remained open for only 11 days. Later, air service was started several times, but did not last.
On the other hand, ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP MP from Cooch Behar had promised to start air service after electing as the MP. Soon after he got elected, he announced that air service would commence from the Cooch Behar airport. Many difficulties arose after he made the announcement. The state government removed the security and fire brigade from the Cooch Behar airport after which the Coochbehar airport was closed for a long time.
Recently, the Central Government has taken the initiative to resume passenger services from the Cooch Behar Airport under the UDAN project. In regard to the same, Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik visited the airport on Friday and had a meeting with the officials. Talking to reporters, he said that the Cooch Behar-Kolkata flight service will soon commence from February 15.