International air services to start in Bodh Gaya

Gaya: Jayprakash Narain International aiport, Patna may be still struggling to match up to its name. But it's Bodh Gaya that will be going international sooner. The news is, that Air India, Minhin Lanka of the emerald isle-Sri Lanka, Druk Air, Bhutan and Phuket Airlines of Thailand are about to resume international services from Bodh Gaya by October.
"Its cheer time for air passengers in Bihar. The development augurs well and is in sync with Bihar's growing stature as a tourist region, which saw it besting even Goa last year with around 11 lakh tourists visiting the state. But, what is of more interest to international and domestic tourists is the recent emphasis of the Nitish Kumar regime, to promote Buddhism as a major tourist revenue spinner, visible from his visits to China and Bhutan and the promise of overland connectivity too", says tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu.
The air connect is largely Buddhist tourist centric with south and southeast Asian traffic in mind.
Fittingly, the resumption of air connect is to coincide with the famous Kalachakra puja, which draws thousands of foreigners and followers of the religion to the ancient and historic city, which is a major pilgrimage for Hindus too.With the officers training academy of the Indian Army also coming up on July 17, the services would only get momentum.
10/07/11 Shantanu Chakraborty/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Airports Jul 2011