Shillong-Kolkata direct flight service flagged off by Conrad

SHILLONG: Private airlines Indigo on Saturday launched a direct flight between Shillong and Kolkata - a move which is expected to increase the number of tourists to Meghalaya soon.
"Private airlines company, Indigo, today began its services from Shillong to Kolkata and vice versa. With this service, people from Shillong can now reach Kolkata within one and half hours," an official said.
Chief minister Conrad Sangma, state transport minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and other MLAs flagged off the services.
Earlier at Kolkata airport, a small programme was also held where Conrad, who had travelled to the city on board the flight, marked the inauguration of the service by cutting a cake. A banner at the airport stated, 'Cholo, ghure aashi Shillong', which means 'Come, let's go to Shillong'.
"On board the first flight with colleagues and travellers. Happy to inaugurate the indigo flight to Shillong from Kolkatta. I am sure the introduction of direct flight to Shillong will boost tourist flow in the State," Conrad tweeted. In another tweet, he wrote: "Landed for the first time at Umroi Airport. It was a great feeling and I am sure that regular flight from Kolkatta will greatly help our people. Our initiative will be to further engage with stakeholders to connect Shillong to other cities of the country."
The Shillong-Kolkata direct flight was a long-pending demand of the people who had to travel to the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in neighbouring Guwahati to catch a flight to most important cities across the country.