Silchar MP raises demand for direct flight to Delhi in Parliament
Participating in a debate in the Lower House on Wednesday, the BJP MP underscored the urgency of enhancing air connectivity between the remote northeastern city and the national capital, calling it a "necessity rooted in both practicality and regional equity."
Currently, air passengers from Silchar are forced to travel to Delhi via either Kolkata or Guwahati, resulting in travel times that often exceed five hours.
Suklabaidya termed the lack of direct connectivity as not only an inconvenience but also a financial and emotional burden for frequent travellers, including students, patients, officials, entrepreneurs and tourists.
"Silchar is not just a city in Assam — it's a strategic gateway to neighbouring states like Mizoram, Tripura, and parts of Meghalaya," the MP said. "In the absence of direct flights, the region suffers a connectivity deficit that affects mobility, economic development, and access to healthcare," he added.
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Suklabaidya urged the civil aviation ministry to take immediate steps under the Centre's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme to facilitate a direct flight between Silchar and Delhi. "This is not merely about convenience. It is about fairness, accessibility, and integrating the Barak Valley more meaningfully with the rest of the country," he said.
He added that such a move would also support the govt's broader goal of strengthening infrastructure and reducing regional imbalances in the northeast.
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