‘Want to build 2nd airport for Kolkata, but no response from state govt’ – Times of India

KOLKATA: Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said that the Centre was looking at a 2 lakh square metre airport for Kolkata.
At an interactive session at Indian Council for Cultural Relations, he said: “I have been trying to discuss the issues with the CM (Mamata Banerjee). But that is not possible so far. What can we do if the state government is not willing to come forward?”
“The airport in Kolkata has reached its maximum capacity and the city needs a new airport. We have been asking for a new site for the past several years. But there has not been any concrete response from the Bengal government yet,” he added.
The existing airport can handle a throughput of 2.5 crore people; the new one would have a throughput of 3.5 crore. “Now the peak passenger capacity is 6,500 people per day and the new terminal building should have a capacity of 10,000-11,000 people,” Scindia said.
The state government, however, indicated that it would approach the Airports Authority of India seeking a relaxation of the maximum distance criteria of 40km between a new airport and the city, so that it can propose a site in Kalyani. The area is around 58km from the city and 43km from the NSCBI Airport in Dum Dum.
Sources in the state government said the site in Bh-angar it was exploring for acquisition of 7,000 acres may not be feasible as it comprised wetlands and multi-crop agricultural lands. While disturbing wetlands may disrupt the ecological balance of the region, farmland acquisition is a prickly issue that can spark an agitation.
A preliminary survey of Bhangar has shown the earmarked zone at Bhogali — one gram panchayat area — has 30-odd cemeteries, 80 large fish bheris, more than 150 small fish bheris, several thousand acres of farmland and more than 6,000 residents in Nangla and Palpur villages.
Pointing to issues plaguing airport expansion projects across the state, Scindia said: “Bagdogra airport is facing land acquisition trouble. We have been sending them repeated reminders, but nothing has happened so far. The same situation can be seen for Hasimara or Kalaikunda.”
He said the ministry was investing Rs 700 crore in NSCBI airport. Of that, Rs 300 crore is earmarked for the technical block-cum-control tower. There will be a taxiway with an investment of Rs 265 crore and Rs 110 crore will be spent to connect the metro railway with the terminal building.