Learn to make losses at Bathinda!

Sukhmeet Bhasin in Bathinda

Bathinda Domestic Airport at Virk Kalan village, which was started at the end of the Badal government’s term, has failed to on the popularity front. National carrier Air India had launched thrice-a-week Bathinda-Delhi flight on December 11, 2016. According to Air India figures, on an average it gets around 50% bookings. And some days, it falls way down -- on Feb 8, only 19 passengers boarded the flight from Bathinda domestic airport for Delhi.

The main reason is said to be the hike in ticket rates by Air India. At the time of its inauguration, the fare for Bathinda-Delhi was kept at Rs 2,500, but now it is Rs 3,900. Another reason is said to be its location, the airport is around 30 km from the city and there is no autorickshaw, cab service available at the airport. The district administration’s bus service also takes people from rural areas. Airport Authority of India (AAI), director at airport here, Kewal

Krishan, hopes that the demand would build up. “The airport also caters to many unscheduled private flights of politicians and officials. We hope to see better days.”

Raman Watts, president, Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attributes the lack of response to the hike in fares and wrong timings of the flights.

Dr Vitull K Gupta, health activist, said “A Delhi flight reaches here at 2.25 pm, a day is almost lost.” Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Bhai Rupa village, says there is no information desk in the city to assist a flyer about booking tickets. “Villagers generally don’t use the internet, so, they face problems in booking tickets online,” he said. .

The airport is near the Bhisiana airbase of the IAF. Spread over 40 acres, it was constructed in October 2012 with cost pegged at Rs25 crore. In the last four years, the government has spent about Rs 9 crore on its maintenance.