Calcutta - Coochbehar - Bagdogra ;Calcutta - Shillong; Calcutta - Agartola; Calcutta - Jamshedpur - Patna - Ranchi ;Calcutta - Bhubaneswar - Rourkella

BASL has entered into collaboration with M/s. NECON Air Limited, a reputed and professionally managed airlines in the Kingdom of Nepal for technical and management support for operation of the air services. The aircraft will be supplied by M/s. Dellair Trading Incorporated, Torento, Canada, on deferred payment basis. Speaking, about the "Dream Scheme' Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, Chairman WBIDC said the multi-crore rupee project, a joint venture of WBIDC and the Bengal Air Services Limited, was scheduled to have been launched on August 15 this year, but owing to some "Technical Difficulties" the Director General of Civil aviation (DGCA) took some more time to give clearance, delaying it by about four months.

"Finally we have been able to see the light at the end of the Tunnel". Inaugural Flight between Calcutta and Coochbehar via Bagdogra in Darjeeling district would take off within a very short period.

He said with the arrival of the first of the two 44 seater turboprop aircraft from Canada, three flights would be operated between Calcutta-Coochbehar-Bagdogra, Calcutta-Jamshedpur-Ranchi and Calcutta-Bagdogra-Patna sectors three days a week, five days a week and three days a week respectively.

Pointing out that there was great enthusiasm among the people, specially among the business community Mr. Chatterjee said all aspects regarding the safety of the passengers have been taken into consideration before launching the project.

In terms of fare structure, The Bengal Air would be competitive vis a vis suface communications, Mr. Chatterjee said. Keeping in mind the safety aspect, minute attentions has been given for the upgrading and development of all the district airports, including the one at Coochbehar, which had long remained unused, the WBIDC Chairman said.

Moreover, Mr. Chatterjee said, efforts were being made to upgrade the Malda and Behrampore Airports, both of which have remained non-functional for a long time, to receive regular Bengal Air flights.