[ad_1]
Kolkata: From attempting Tatkal train bookings to planning a detour via Pakyong in Sikkim and flipping through the best seats on buses to even charting a road trip to north Bengal — city travellers planning a visit to north Bengal this month are checking out alternative options as Bagdogra airport is shutting down for 15 days from Monday.
“An impromptu plan was made last week to visit Darjeeling for the Poila Baisakh weekend. But we found out that flights won’t operate then, and train tickets are all booked. Now we will be trying for Tatkal tickets or may take up a much-awaited road trip we had planned for long,” said Rajat Majumdar, a Behala resident.
Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network general secretary, Samrat Sanyal, said“We are advising tourists to book their tickets for Pakyong in Sikkim. Many summer special trains have also started. Bus too is an alternative. However, flying into Pakyong is fraught with uncertainty due to weather issues,” he said. Flights have not been able to operate to Pakyong in the past five days due to heavy rain.
The change in plans were necessitated as Bagdogra airport will be closed for 15 days from April 11 to April 25 when the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be undertaking runway resurfacing work.
Bagdogra airport director, Subramani P said: “The IAF has written to us for the closure of flight services for runway resurfacing. It is in the finishing stage and will be completed within 15 days. The work was also being done at night for the last two years, hence we were operating flights till 6pm. Both ends of the runway have been completed and we are left with the middle portion hence the closure. After the work is completed we will operate more flights and the time will also be extended.”
The flight closure has naturally pushed up demand for tickets on buses and trains in the peak summer season. NBSTC chairman Partha Pratim Roy said they will start two additional bus services to and from Kolkata during the flight suspension. Private bus operators have hinted at an increase in bus fares owing to the rise in demand.
“An impromptu plan was made last week to visit Darjeeling for the Poila Baisakh weekend. But we found out that flights won’t operate then, and train tickets are all booked. Now we will be trying for Tatkal tickets or may take up a much-awaited road trip we had planned for long,” said Rajat Majumdar, a Behala resident.
Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network general secretary, Samrat Sanyal, said“We are advising tourists to book their tickets for Pakyong in Sikkim. Many summer special trains have also started. Bus too is an alternative. However, flying into Pakyong is fraught with uncertainty due to weather issues,” he said. Flights have not been able to operate to Pakyong in the past five days due to heavy rain.
The change in plans were necessitated as Bagdogra airport will be closed for 15 days from April 11 to April 25 when the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be undertaking runway resurfacing work.
Bagdogra airport director, Subramani P said: “The IAF has written to us for the closure of flight services for runway resurfacing. It is in the finishing stage and will be completed within 15 days. The work was also being done at night for the last two years, hence we were operating flights till 6pm. Both ends of the runway have been completed and we are left with the middle portion hence the closure. After the work is completed we will operate more flights and the time will also be extended.”
The flight closure has naturally pushed up demand for tickets on buses and trains in the peak summer season. NBSTC chairman Partha Pratim Roy said they will start two additional bus services to and from Kolkata during the flight suspension. Private bus operators have hinted at an increase in bus fares owing to the rise in demand.
[ad_2]
Source link
