A New Blueprint for Bengal's Skies
In a major push for regional connectivity, West Bengal is set to get four new airports within the next two years. The plan, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, will
be implemented under the Centre's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. This move will increase the number of operational airports in the state from the current three—Kolkata, Bagdogra, and Andal—to eight, once the Cooch Behar airport is also revived. Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed the two-year target, highlighting a concerted effort to enhance Bengal's aviation infrastructure.
The Strategic Locations
The four locations have been strategically chosen to unlock regional potential and improve access to underserved areas. The new airports will be developed at: Charra in Purulia district, Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur, and by creating civil enclaves at two existing Air Force bases, Kalaikunda in West Midnapore and Hasimara in Alipurduar. The development at Kalaikunda and Hasimara is particularly notable, as both have existing 2,700-metre runways capable of handling narrow-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737. The new airport at Charra will revive a historic airstrip built during World War II.
The Two-Year Challenge: Ambition vs. Reality
While the two-year deadline is ambitious, officials are optimistic due to the utilisation of existing infrastructure. The projects at Kalaikunda and Hasimara involve converting military airfields for civilian use, a model successfully used for Bagdogra airport. In Balurghat, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) already owns land, simplifying the expansion process. However, the timeline is contingent on the state government providing the necessary land and basic infrastructure, while the AAI will handle the development and subsequent flight operations. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured that land acquisition, which allegedly stalled previous projects, will be expedited.
Connecting the Dots: Economic and Social Impact
The project is expected to deliver a significant economic and social boost. Improved connectivity will open up new possibilities for tourism, particularly in the Dooars region via the Hasimara airport. It will also benefit agriculture and regional trade by creating faster supply chains. For residents of districts like Purulia, Bankura, and West Midnapore, these airports will drastically reduce travel time and provide direct links to other parts of the country. The Centre has committed to spending Rs 29,000 crore in West Bengal over the next decade under the UDAN scheme to support this vision.
A Larger Vision for Aviation
This four-airport plan is part of a broader strategy to transform West Bengal into a major aviation hub. Discussions are also underway for a second international airport for Kolkata to handle increasing passenger traffic, with 2,000 acres identified in Kalyani. Furthermore, there are requests to develop Malda and revive Cooch Behar as full-fledged airports in the next phase of expansion. The state government is also being encouraged to formulate a new civil aviation policy to attract more private investment into the sector, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.
