A Renewed Push for Regional Connectivity
In early October 2026, the West Bengal government and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop four new airports under the Centre's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme. The plan aims
to double the number of operational airports in the state from four to eight within two years, with a committed central investment of ₹29,000 crore over the next decade. The identified locations are Chharra in Purulia, Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur, Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur, and Hasimara in Alipurduar. This initiative signals a renewed drive to enhance infrastructure and integrate the state's districts, which have historically relied on road and rail networks. The goal is not just to ease passenger travel but also to create new avenues for tourism, trade, and economic activity, especially for farmers and small businesses in North Bengal.
The Airports on the Anvil
Each of the four proposed sites presents a unique opportunity and set of challenges. At Hasimara and Kalaikunda, which are Air Force bases, the plan is to build civil enclaves. Both locations already possess 2,700-metre runways capable of handling narrow-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737, making them prime candidates for faster development. The Hasimara airport is expected to significantly boost tourism in the Dooars region, while Kalaikunda could serve the industrial hub of Kharagpur. In Balurghat, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) already owns land with an existing airstrip that can be expanded, potentially reviving a crucial link between North and South Bengal. The project at Chharra in Purulia involves reviving a historic airstrip built during World War II that has since been largely unused. Additionally, there have been persistent calls to revive the airport in Malda in a future phase of development.
Navigating the Labyrinth of Approvals
While the MoU marks a significant step, the journey from agreement to operation is long and fraught with procedural hurdles. The headline challenge remains securing timely construction and operational approvals. These are not a single step but a multi-stage process involving various central and state bodies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for safety oversight and must grant licenses for airports to operate commercial flights. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) oversees infrastructure development and flight management. For the projects at Hasimara and Kalaikunda, defence clearances are also critical. According to state officials, previous delays were linked to the failure to provide the necessary land—25 acres for Hasimara and 37 for Kalaikunda—despite the army having given its consent earlier. Beyond land acquisition, each project requires detailed project reports, environmental clearances, infrastructure readiness checks, and final operational certifications before airlines can be invited to bid for routes.
The Cost of Waiting
For the communities these airports are meant to serve, the delays are more than just administrative. They represent a missed opportunity for economic growth and improved quality of life. Enhanced air connectivity can be transformative for regional economies, reducing travel time for business, providing faster access to healthcare and education in major cities, and opening up remote tourist destinations. For instance, better air links could facilitate the swift transport of high-value agricultural products like mangoes from North Bengal to wider markets, directly benefiting local farmers. The current reliance on road and rail can be time-consuming and inefficient. While the new two-year timeline is ambitious, past experiences with airport revival projects, such as the long-stalled efforts at Malda, show that MoUs alone do not guarantee swift execution. The success of West Bengal's regional aviation dream hinges on sustained coordination between state and central agencies to untangle the bureaucratic knots and turn plans into functional runways.
