Kullu-Chandigarh flight resumes

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, MARCH 2

National carrier Air India restarted its regular flights between Kullu and Chandigarh from today after a span of two months. The flight that was cancelled on January 3 also operated for one day, on January 27. The schedule was altered to exclude the Kullu-Chandigarh sector due to operational reasons till March 1.

Air India Station manager at Bhuntar Akhilesh Vijayi said the Kullu-Chandigarh operations resumed from today. He said that earlier flight was coming from Delhi to Chandigarh and then to Kullu and going back directly to Delhi.

He added that now flight will depart from Delhi at 6.45 am and arrive directly at Kullu at 8.05 am. He said that flight would then resume for Chandigarh from Kullu at 8.30 am and return back to Kullu from Chandigarh at 9.40 am. The flight then will return back to Delhi at 10.50 am. He said that Chandigarh operations would not be carried out on Sundays.

Commuters associated with the tourism industry were delighted after the restart of the Chandigarh operations. Manali Hoteliers’ Association president Anup Thakur said high-end tourists prefer saving time and opt to fly. He said that air services to Chandigarh should continue as this would benefit the entire valley.

He demanded that flights between Kullu and Chandigarh should be included under the UDAN scheme to provide cheaper air fares. He said that it was disappointing that expansion of Bhuntar airport was hanging fire since so long.

Kullu Travel Agents Association patron Bhupinder Thakur said that resumption of the flight would boost influx of tourist and provide fillip to the tourism industry.