Siliguri, Oct. 8: Bagdogra will turn into an international airport in less than a month, with the first flight to Kathmandu all-set to take off.

Civil aviation minister Shahnawaz Hussain today said Indian Airlines will operate its flight to Nepal’s capital on the Calcutta-Bagdogra-Kathmandu sector from the first week of November. He said the airline will initially operate the flight once a week, which will later be increased to five days a week.

“If all goes well and there is enough demand, we will run flights to Kathmandu up to five days a week,” Hussain, who was here on his way to Assam, said.

He said the ministry had plans to introduce other international flights to and from Bagdogra, especially to Dhaka, a long-standing demand of local businessmen.

“We are studying the feasibility of operating flights to Bangladesh and other South-east Asian countries,” he added.

In a move aimed at boosting the trade in the under-developed region, Hussain said the ministry was considering introducing cargo flights through Bagdogra. “We are planning to connect Bagdogra with Guwahati, New Delhi and Mumbai, to start with in the first instance. The matter was recently discussed with defence minister George Fernandes,” he added.

The minister said the cargo flights would help in the export of fruits like mango and pineapple produced abundantly in the region. “The export of flowers from Kalimpong and Sikkim would also benefit in a big way.”

Hussain acknowledged that Bagdogra airport could do with much improvement to match up to its new-found status as an international airport. He said efforts were under way to develop the airport’s infrastructure.

“We have not yet received the no-objection certificate from the air force authorities on the approach road to the airport. Once we get it, we will throw the road open to the public,” the civil aviation minister said.

The minister said the government would soon set up the facilities required for an international airport, including immigration, health and customs enclosures. “The work will be carried out on a war-footing.”

The civil aviation minister will soon call a meeting with the local business community, tour operators and officials to seek suggestions and assess the ongoing work at the airport. “We will try to accept and act on their suggestions for over-all development of Bagdogra,” he said.

The civil aviation ministry will also allow the Sikkim government to continue running its helicopter service from Bagdogra to boost the state’s tourism. “The Sikkim government is welcome to use the facilities in Bagdogra in a bigger way,” Hussain said.

The Sikkim government has long lobbied for upgradation of the airport so it could run more chopper services for tourists. Tourism is the largest revenue provider in that state.

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries of North Bengal, hailing the ministry’s decisions, said the flights to Kathmandu would not only help strengthen Indo-Nepal ties, but promote tourism as well. The body said the flights to Dhaka and Paro in Bhutan would pave the way for trade and commerce.

Earlier, anyone wanting to travel to Kathmandu either had to take the night bus service from Kakarvitta or a flight from Bhadrapur in east Nepal.

Focin had also placed a demand to set up a Bangladesh visa office in Siliguri. At present, there is only one entry and exit point — Hili in Dakshin Dinajpur and Changrabandha in Cooch Behar.