Low-cost carrier IndiGo inaugurated its thrice-weekly Durgapur–Varanasi service on 29 October, marking the steel city’s first nonstop link to India’s spiritual capital. The ATR-72 flight departs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, offering convenient same-day return options for pilgrims and SME owners alike.
Durgapur’s catchment—spanning Asansol, Bankura and Dhanbad—previously required travellers to transit via Kolkata, adding at least six hours to the journey. The new route is expected to stimulate religious tourism and facilitate movement of engineering-consultancy staff between West Bengal’s industrial cluster and infrastructure projects in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Local chambers of commerce project a 12 % rise in bilaterally traded goods over the next year, while tour operators have bundled weekend packages combining Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Corridor with Bodh Gaya via rail.
From a mobility standpoint, the flight underscores a broader trend: IndiGo has added nine sub-metro point-to-point routes in 2025 to de-stress overcrowded Tier-1 hubs. HR-policy writers should update preferred-city pair lists to include Durgapur for employee-origin fares.
Introductory fares start at ₹4,999 one-way; analysts expect healthy load factors given sparse rail and road alternatives.
Durgapur’s catchment—spanning Asansol, Bankura and Dhanbad—previously required travellers to transit via Kolkata, adding at least six hours to the journey. The new route is expected to stimulate religious tourism and facilitate movement of engineering-consultancy staff between West Bengal’s industrial cluster and infrastructure projects in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Local chambers of commerce project a 12 % rise in bilaterally traded goods over the next year, while tour operators have bundled weekend packages combining Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Corridor with Bodh Gaya via rail.
From a mobility standpoint, the flight underscores a broader trend: IndiGo has added nine sub-metro point-to-point routes in 2025 to de-stress overcrowded Tier-1 hubs. HR-policy writers should update preferred-city pair lists to include Durgapur for employee-origin fares.
Introductory fares start at ₹4,999 one-way; analysts expect healthy load factors given sparse rail and road alternatives.
Bron: The Times of India
