Ranchi, April 19: The suspension of the direct flight between Ranchi and Raipur has left air passengers grappling with long travel hours, expensive fares, and logistical inconvenience, prompting calls for the route’s swift restoration.
With the only non-stop connection between the capitals of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh halted, travelers now rely on connecting flights through Kolkata, Delhi, or Chennai—stretching travel durations to 8–12 hours and pushing fares up to ₹12,000–₹25,000.
Rajnish Kumar, a frequent flyer on the route, said the disruption is affecting hundreds. “The number of passengers going from Ranchi to Raipur is very high, but due to the flight being stopped, the problems of the passengers have increased,” he said.
Although the aerial distance between Ranchi and Raipur is just 450 kilometers, the alternative routes have added considerable distance and complexity. Travelers are now flying Ranchi–Kolkata (325 km) before heading to Raipur (710 km), or via Chennai (1,270 km) or Delhi (1,000 km), resulting in both time and financial loss.
Dinesh Prasad Sahu, Chairman of the Birsa Munda Civil Aviation Sub-Committee, criticized the discontinuation of the service. “There is a huge scope of trade between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and a large number of passengers travel between them,” he said. “A direct flight was earlier launched due to demand, and it had sufficient passengers. It was stopped without any reason.” He urged airport authorities and airlines to reinstate the service immediately.
Meanwhile, Birsa Munda Airport is reporting strong financial performance. Airport Director R.R. Maurya stated that the airport is expected to post a profit of ₹50 crore for the financial year 2024–25. “Though the final report is pending, the profit is expected to touch ₹50 crore,” he said.
Currently, the airport handles 28 daily flights with an average footfall of 8,600 passengers. Indigo and Air India Express are the main carriers operating from Ranchi. Revenue sources include terminal advertising, aircraft night parking, and the expansion of commercial services like restaurants and retail outlets.
Airport officials have hinted at further improvements in passenger amenities in the near future, even as public demand for improved regional connectivity continues to mount.
