Hacked  By  r4dBlack

THIMPHU: Bhutanese, travelling to and fro the north-east Indian states and south Bhutan, will now have the option to fly and avoid the hassles of the tedious, and often hazardous, roads.
Inaugurated jointly by the Indian minister for external affairs, Mr S M Krishna, and Bhutanese foreign minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Drukair started its 25-minute long inaugural flight to Bagdogra, India, yesterday, making it the first international airline to enter Bagdora aerodrome. Tickets will cost Nu 2000.

Drukair will fly twice a week to Bangkok via Bagdora on Tuesdays and Saturdays and return from Bagdogra on Wednesdays and Sundays.

“Now, when Drukair can’t land at Paro airport, it can land at Bagdora airport, without having to go all the way back to Kolkata,” said Drukair’s deputy managing director, Rinzin Dorji. “Tourism can also benefit, as it would be easier for tourists visiting Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim to visit Bhutan too.”

Bhutanese welcome the development. “The ticket price is reasonable. Compared to the dangerous journey along the south, flying to Bagdogra and coming back to Phuentsholing would be more safer and less time consuming,” said a Thimphu businessman.

A tour operator said: “Many times we face problem picking and dropping tourist from Bagdogra because of the present Thimphu-Phuentsholing road condition, but now it’ll become very convenient for us.”

By Passang Norbu