Bengal seeks intervention on flights, fares after floods

People commute on banana rafts at a flood-hit village near Balurghat in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Pic/AFP

The West Bengal government on Thursday said it has sought the Civil Aviation Ministry's intervention to increase the number of flights in the Kolkata-Bagdogra sector and keep fares at the normal level in view of the floods in the state's northern part.

"Our Chief secretary has written to the Civil Aviation Secretary about the astronomically high fares being charged by some of the airlines," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the state secretariat Nabanna.

A state Transport Department official said the state government has also urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to help increase the number of flights in the Kolkata-Bagdogra sector in view of the current crisis.

According to the official, as the road and rail connectivity between north and south Bengal has been disrupted, most of the airline operators have been making use of the opportunity to impose abruptly high fares on passengers, thereby causing huge distress to the already inconvenienced passengers.

"In view of the above and in connection with the present disaster management measures, Chief Secretary has requested Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation to send advisories to the different airline operators for enhancing number of flights in the Kolkata-Bagdogra sector, for a fortnight now and for keeping their fare levels at normal," the official said.