7 hrs ago

Centre Plans Airline Talks on Calcutta’s London and European Links

The Centre plans to talk with airlines about bringing back direct flights from Calcutta to London and other European cities.

Calcutta previously had a direct London flight, but it stopped in 2009, returned in 2020, and stopped again in 2022.

The Centre also plans to develop four sites in Bengal for domestic flights.

Two are army airports that would get areas for civilian flights.

The state has joined a programme called Udan 2.0 to support airport development.

Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari also asked for more flights from Andal and Calcutta.

The minister said Behala airstrip could become a place to train pilots.

Separately, the state cabinet approved hiring 14,454 people in several departments.

Key facts

Proposed international routes: Direct flights from Calcutta to London and other European destinations
Previous London service: Withdrawn in 2009, reintroduced in 2020, and withdrawn in March 2022
Proposed airport sites: Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Chharra and Balurghat
Udan 2.0 funding: The minister said the Centre would spend ₹29,000 crore nationally on airport development over the next 10 years
Additional airport proposal: The state is working to develop a second airport at Kalyani in Nadia
Recruitment approved: The state cabinet approved a proposal to recruit 14,454 people across several departments
Constable appointments: Adhikari said appointment letters would be given to some of 12,000 recently selected constables on October 11

telegraphindia.com · 7 hrs ago