Despite having established itself over the past several decades as one of the most reliable flight services for air travelers in Barak Valley, Air India’s sudden decision to suspend its Silchar-Kolkata flight service from June 1 is deeply unfortunate. The Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has demanded an immediate review and withdrawal of this decision.
In a press statement, Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Convenor of BDF’s Media Cell, said that approximately 200 passengers travel daily via this Air India service, which is recognized as one of the most dependable options for air travelers in the Barak Valley. For critically ill patients and even the transportation of mortal remains, this flight has been a vital lifeline for the residents of Barak. The abrupt discontinuation of this service would create immense difficulties for the passengers. He further stated that this move would likely cause a sharp rise in ticket prices of the remaining two services operated by IndiGo and Alliance Air, pushing them beyond the reach of common travelers.
He added that the road and rail connectivity in the region is already subpar. With the monsoon season approaching, land communication with other parts of the country might be disrupted again, compelling residents to rely heavily on air travel. In such a scenario, suspending this Air India flight would cause serious inconvenience to the people here. Therefore, BDF demands that the decision be reconsidered and immediately withdrawn.
Joydeep further mentioned that there have been reports of government initiatives aimed at improving Silchar’s air connectivity, including efforts to develop a Greenfield Airport and technical upgrades such as enabling night landings at the current airport. However, if the number of flights continues to decrease, such infrastructural improvements will become meaningless. He stressed that local public representatives, including the MP, must take active steps and engage with relevant authorities to ensure that the decision is reversed. He also expressed doubts about the speculation that the flight might resume from September, saying that such a possibility entirely depends on the commercial decisions of Air India. Hence, ensuring the continuation of the current flight is crucial.
He pointed out that while the number of flights is increasing in cities like Guwahati and Dibrugarh, the withdrawal of flights in Silchar is unfortunate. He urged everyone to raise their voice against this decision.
This information was shared in a press statement by Hrishikesh Dey, Convenor of BDF.
(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
