Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly built Deoghar International Airport on July 12, news agency PTI reported.
IndiGo said on Friday that it will begin operating flights between Kolkata and Deoghar in Jharkhand on July 12.
The newly constructed airport in Jharkhand now has an aerodrome licence from the aviation regulator DGCA, enabling it to accommodate narrow-body aircraft like the A321 and B737.
As on July 12, there will be four weekly departures from Kolkata to Deoghar, according to a statement from the airline.
“These new flights will enhance connectivity and significantly reduce transit time between Kolkata and Deoghar, from 7.5 hours to less than 1.25 hours," Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer of IndiGo Sanjay Kumar was quoted by PTI in its report.
“The increased access to Deoghar — home to Baba Baidyanath Temple, Trikuta Parvata, Rama Krishna Mission Vidyapith and Naulakha Mandir — will also boost religious tourism in the region,” he added.
Deoghar Airport
According to officials, the Deoghar airport is prepared to begin operations after two successful flight run trials. After Birsa Munda International Airport in Ranchi, the airport would be the second of international standards in Jharkhand when it is operational.
The airport was built on 657 acres for a cost of Rs 401 crore and has a 2500 m-long runway that can accommodate Airbus jets landing and taking off (A320). Its terminal structure is 5,130 square feet and contains six check-in desks that can accommodate 200 travellers at once. The architecture of the airport is eco-friendly, and it has modern passenger facilities, according to the statement.
(With Inputs From PTI)