Reduces Frequency to One-weekly Flights, Also Connects Mumbai direct with Nanded
After the opening of Kartarpur corridor, there is more good news for the thousands of pilgrims from Punjab and abroad who visit Takht Sri Hazur Sahib at Nanded, one of the five Sikh Takht (Temporal seat), said Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convenor of the FlyAmritsar Initiative and Overseas Secretary of NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch. In a press release, Gumtala shared the information that after facing criticism to suspend Amritsar – Nanded direct flights, Air India will now resume this direct flight from 24th November, 2021.
Welcoming the decision by Air India to resume the direct flight, Gumtala said that according to the schedule available on website, the airline will now operate the flight every Wednesday on Amritsar-Nanded-Mumbai route and return flight every Saturday of the week as Mumbai-Nanded-Amritsar. This new routing will also provide direct connectivity for pilgrims from Mumbai with Nanded. The flight from Amritsar will depart every Wednesday at 10:45 am and reach Nanded at 1:00 pm. Similarly, the first flight from Nanded will be on November 27. The flight will depart from Nanded every Saturday at 9:15 am and land at Amritsar at 11:30 am. Booking of this flight has also started on its website and available till end of March 2022.
Gumtala said that, Air India in late-October 2021, suspended the booking of this direct flight during its winter schedule for 2021- 22. FlyAmritsar Initiative and Amritsar Vikas Manch, immediately brought this matter into the attention of the media, SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur, CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Member Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla and requested the Government of India to continue this important air link between the two holy cities by Air India. After this, its condemnation started in Punjab with SGPC chief and CM Punjab also opposed it.
He further added that the continuation of these flights, in addition to the people of Punjab, would also benefit thousands of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who visit their ancestral land in Punjab in winter months, to travel conveniently between the two holy cities. We are thankful to the Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for his intervention to resume this flight. Earlier this flight used to operate three days a week. Now after the resumption of this one-weekly flight, we hope that based on a good response, Air India will increase its frequency back to three days a week, said Gumtala.
Gumtala informed that FlyAmritsar Initiative also requested and presented previous years detailed traffic statistics to Go First airline executives to start direct flights between Amritsar – Nanded during a meeting at the airport after the recent launch of airline’s daily six flights from Amritsar to Delhi, Mumbai and Srinagar. He also appealed to the Punjab Government for immediate resumption of BRTS Metro bus service from Airport to Sri Darbar Sahib and also connecting the Airport with bus service from other cities of Punjab.
