IndiGo's first Gayaji-Bangkok non-stop flight flagged off by Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary

A step towards strengthening Bihar's international air connectivity was taken on Monday, when Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched, by video conferencing, IndiGo Airlines' first non-stop international service (6E 1083) between Gayaji and the Thai capital Bangkok. The event was held in Patna on October 27.

The new service will establish direct air links between Bihar and Thailand. It is expected to make travel easier for Buddhist pilgrims, foreign tourists and other passengers. The flight between Gayaji and Bangkok will operate two days a week.

Greeting the passengers, Choudhary said civil aviation in Bihar was being expanded steadily. He said the direct flight from Gayaji to Bangkok would strengthen international connectivity and give fresh momentum to religious, cultural and tourism ties between Bihar and Thailand.

He noted that Gayaji holds special importance for Buddhist pilgrims and tourists around the world. A direct flight could be very convenient for foreign tourists visiting this land, which is associated with the wisdom and compassion of Lord Buddha. The service is expected to increase tourism prospects in the whole Magadh region, including Bodh Gaya. If tourist numbers rise, hotels, transport, handicrafts and other local tourism-related businesses could also benefit.

The Chief Minister said good air connectivity plays an important role in giving Bihar's rich culture, historical heritage and local products a global identity. He said expansion of international flights would boost trade and economic activity in the state along with tourism. He thanked IndiGo Airlines for its cooperation in the initiative and said cooperation and coordination to expand international air services in Bihar would continue to be encouraged.

The Chief Minister said work was under way to boost air connectivity in the state through the airports at Patna, Darbhanga, Gayaji and Purnea. Work is also on a policy to link Bihar to new international air routes. The start of the direct Gayaji-Bangkok service is being seen in connection with new opportunities for development in Bihar's tourism and civil aviation sectors. It is expected to help connect the state to new possibilities at the national and international levels.

During the event, R.K. Singh, Special Director of IndiGo Airlines, welcomed Choudhary with a green sapling. He also presented the Chief Minister with a symbolic boarding pass for IndiGo's first non-stop flight on the Gayaji-Bangkok route.

Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, the Chief Minister's secretaries Lokesh Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Civil Aviation Department Secretary Nilesh Ramchandra Deore were among the senior officials present. MLAs, public representatives, the district magistrate, other senior officials and IndiGo officials also joined the event from Gayaji by video conferencing.

The direct international service from Gayaji to Bangkok is expected to strengthen Bihar's global connectivity. The initiative is particularly important for Buddhist pilgrims and foreign tourists coming to Bodh Gaya. It may also boost tourism, local businesses and employment opportunities in the Magadh region.