Surat: In a move welcomed by lakhs of migrant workers and entrepreneurs, BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar, Dharamsheela Gupta, on Monday urged the Central Government to launch direct flights between Patna and Surat and to increase the frequency of flights to Ahmedabad.

Raising the demand on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Gupta highlighted that lakhs of people from Bihar live and work in cities like Ahmedabad and Surat, traveling frequently for employment, education, and trade. “Yet, there is either no direct air service or connectivity remains extremely limited,” she noted.

Currently, Patna has only one direct flight to Ahmedabad and none to Surat, despite high demand. Gupta requested the government to start at least two daily flights to Ahmedabad and urgently introduce a direct Patna–Surat connection.

The proposal received widespread backing in the House, particularly from MPs representing constituencies with significant Bihari populations in Gujarat.

Responding to the demand, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjrapu Ram Mohan Naidu assured the House that the request would be reviewed. “We will forward this proposal to the concerned airlines and explore how it can be implemented. With the new terminal now operational at Patna Airport, there is greater scope to add flights,” he said. DeshGujarat