Bagdogra Airport: Three-Minute Goodbye Tradition

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Bagdogra International Airport has implemented a three-minute goodbye policy for passengers and their families for several years. This move parallels the ongoing controversy at New Zealand’s Dunedin Airport regarding a similar time limit. Bagdogra serves as a gateway to North Bengal, Northeast Bihar, Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Bagdogra International Airport, located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, has an interesting goodbye policy for passengers. For years, a three-minute time limit has been enforced for farewells. During this time, relatives or drivers wait outside the airport in their cars to ensure a swift goodbye without incurring additional charges.

As you drive along the Siliguri-Purnia highway towards Bagdogra Airport, you see a queue of cars lined up on the service road. The drivers enjoy hot tea and engage in conversations, often saying things like, “Have you landed? Call us once you get your bags.”

Bagdogra Airport attracts traffic not just from various districts of West Bengal but also from Bihar and neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. It sees around 60 flights and 8,000 passengers daily.

The airport has a strict three-minute limit for how long cars can wait at the pickup point. Exceeding this time results in hefty fines. Thus, people prepare for their farewells and welcomes while seated in their cars or standing outside, creating a unique atmosphere that has become the identity of Bagdogra.

Operated as a civil enclave at the Indian Air Force’s Bagdogra Air Force Station, photography is prohibited. However, this rule does not deter the numerous relatives and friends who gather to bid farewell or receive passengers, filling the area with emotions of love, goodbyes, and reunions.

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