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Dec 2006

Demand for upgrading Bagdogra Airport

     Bagdogra (West Bengal): A demand for the upgradation of Bagdogra Airport, the nearest airport to Darjeeling, a tourist hotspot, is gaining momentum. Youth in Darjeeling and adjoining foothill areas came together on Sunday to demand the upgradation of the airport and for it to be connected to international destinations. Darjeeling, known as the queen of hills, accounts for the bulk of West Bengal's tourism revenue. But the closest airport is nearly 80 km away in Bagdogra. Built around an Indian Air Force facility, Bagdogra Airport has several infrastructural shortcomings, forcing international tourists to change flights at Kolkata. There has been a longstanding demand from Darjeeling-based business houses and civil society groups to put Bagdogra on the international air map to harness Darjeeling's tourism potential to the full. On Sunday, the youth undertook a motorbike procession from Darjeeling to Bagdogra, brandishing posters illustrating their demands.

     The rally was organised as part of the ongoing Darjeeling Carnival, a cultural festival that showcases the town's culture and heritage sites. For the youth of Darjeeling, it was a rare coming together with their counterparts from the foothills for a common cause. "The hills are like an island. The plains are down there, but the hills and the plains... we are from the same place but are never united in so many ways. So, it is a sign of unity and another step towards prosperity of the hills and the plains together," said Muskan, a participant. Darjeeling, cradled among the hills of West Bengal at 2134 meters above sea level, has always been a favourite visiting point for tourists, particularly for its snowcapped mountains, including a breathtaking view of Kanchenjunga peak and the pristine beauty of the Himalayas. Famous the world over for its tea, Darjeeling is the centre of India's most celebrated tea-growing district, and possibly has the most picturesque view among the country's hill resorts. The lush green tea estates around the town and the 120-year-old 'toy train', a UNESCO world heritage site, are the main tourist attractions of the town. Tea, timber and eco-tourism are the mainstay of the State's economy. More than four million tourists visit West Bengal annually.
-Dec 11, 2006