Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naydu virtually inaugurated the first Mumbai-Deoghar flight from New Delhi on Tuesday, heralding a new chapter in the temple town’s aviation history. This marks a major milestone since the establishment of Deoghar Airport in June 2022. The new service, operated by IndiGo, will run thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The inaugural flight from Mumbai carried 164 passengers and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute upon landing at Deoghar Airport. Passengers were welcomed with a special ceremony organised by the airport and IndiGo authorities. The return flight departed at 1:30 pm with 163 passengers, completing the journey to Mumbai in two hours and 40 minutes. Expressing gratitude, BJP MP from Deoghar Nishikant Dubey described the event as historic and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the establishment of airport infrastructure in Deoghar, which serves as a key religious destination. Deoghar Airport Director Praveen Kumar highlighted the growing network of destinations accessible from the airport. “The airport already connects to five major cities — Kolkata (daily), Ranchi (thrice weekly), Patna (four times weekly), Bangalore (daily), and Delhi (daily). With the addition of Mumbai, we now cater to six destinations,” he said.
Kapil Singh, an official from IndiGo, underscored the broader implications of the new service. “This air route will enhance travel convenience while fostering commerce and cultural exchange between Mumbai and Deoghar,” he noted. Deoghar’s prominence as a religious hub and its strategic location make this new service a boon for pilgrims and business travellers alike. The enhanced connectivity is also expected to stimulate tourism and economic activities across the Santhal Pargana division and neighbouring regions, including parts of Bihar and Bengal. This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving regional connectivity and accessibility, creating opportunities for economic growth and cultural integration. For travellers, it represents a seamless bridge between one of India’s largest metropolitan cities and a sacred destination revered by millions.
