IndiGo Brings New Flight Route for Barak Valley
SILCHAR : IndiGo will launch a daily morning flight from New Delhi to Silchar via Guwahati, starting September 20, 2025. This move aims to ease travel for Barak Valley residents, who face challenges due to poor road and rail links.
The announcement came via Assam’s Barak Valley Development Minister, Kaushik Rai, who credited Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for spearheading the initiative. Rai extended thanks to IndiGo for its role in improving regional connectivity and convenience
Flight Schedule and Route Details
The flight will depart New Delhi at 4:55 am, reach Guwahati by 7:40 am, and land in Silchar at 9:20 am. The return leg will leave Silchar at 10:40 am, reach Guwahati by 11:40 am, and arrive in New Delhi at 2:20 pm
However, Silchar Airport officials have yet to confirm if the service will operate daily or follow a weekly schedule
Strategic Push for Regional Air Connectivity
The new route stems from high-level advocacy. During a recent visit to Silchar, Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota revealed that CM Sarma had personally met with IndiGo’s chairman to push for better transport links
Silchar MP Parimal Suklabaidya also raised the demand for a direct Silchar–Delhi flight in Parliament. He highlighted how the current transit-based options strain students, patients, business travellers, and local commerce. Suklabaidya urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to act under the UDAN scheme to improve regional access
Context: Air Travel After Air India Exit
Air India ceased its Silchar operations in June 2025, ending nearly seven decades of service on the Silchar-Kolkata route. This withdrawal intensified worries about connectivity for Barak Valley
With that exit, only IndiGo and Alliance Air now serve Silchar. The new IndiGo route will thus fill a critical gap and help stabilize fare and capacity challenges in the region.
What This Means for Travelers
For Barak Valley residents, this development is a game-changer. The new flight promises safer, faster, and more reliable travel compared to inconsistent rail or long road trips, especially during monsoons. The people also expect the price of the airline to be kept at minimal in line with the affordable remote connectivity program of Civil aviation.
Passengers can expect simplified journeys, and policymakers see it as a step toward equitable access across Northeast India.