New airport project at Behala, near Kolkata: Civil aviation minister Praful Patel

24 September 2007

The West Bengal government plans to set up a small commercial airport in Behala, near Kolkata, by developing a flying club airstrip. At a foundation stone laying ceremony for air-side development work at the Behala Flying Club, union minister of state for civil aviation Praful Patel said the ministry is planning to develop the Behala airport as an auxiliary facility one to the Netaji International Airport at Dum Dum, for operating smaller aircraft.

But, he said, the state government would have to provide more land to extend the runway so that ATR turbo-prop aircraft could safely land at the new airport. "To handle commercial operations of smaller aircraft, the runway will have to be extended to 4,500 feet from the present 3,500 feet. About 30 acres of land will be required for the runway extension and to build a passenger terminal building," Patel said.

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was present on the occasion, said the new airport, when it comes up, would reduce the pressure on Dum Dum airport as smaller aircraft and helicopters could be operated from there.

He requested local members of parliament to help the Airports Authority of India (AAI) acquire the required land. On a recent visit, Patel had ruled out the possibility of developing a new greenfield international airport in the state.

The first phase will cost Rs10 crore, for upgrading the runway, installing ground lights, and building a boundary wall. The airport will be a modern facility for regional flights within a year, and also house an institute for training pilots, the minister said.

The Behala Flying Club and the Camelia Flying Training Institute have entered into a joint venture to set up a Rs35-crore institute to train pilots.

Patel said that the Cooch Behar airport was almost ready and would be inaugurated next month. He said the country would have at least 500 operational airports within a few years. Most of these, he said, would be small airports that will boost regional airlines and air-link far-flung areas.