Kolkata, Aug 1 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday inaugurated the Singapore Airlines' subsidiary Silk Air’s four day a week service connecting Kolkata with Singapore. She said the service will also boost trade.


"It will boost ties between both countries. The people of Bengal will be benefited, so will be the people of Singapore. The new service will help tourism to flourish. This will also help business to grow on both sides,” said Banerjee at the inaugural ceremony.

Banerjee dedicated the service in honour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

"Our ties with Singapore are not new. Netaji worked closely with the Singapore government during the freedom struggle. I dedicated today’s programme in his honour. The service will help in strengthening cultural ties between the countries as well as Bengal."

Silk Air will operate four flights a week from Kolkata to the city-state: on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Singapore Airlines operates three flights from the city on the three other days of the week. With Silk Air’s flights, Kolkata will have a flight daily to Singapore.