Kolkata, June 8: The plan to establish a civil enclave at the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Midnapore district has gained renewed momentum following a change in government in West Bengal.
For over a decade, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India have been striving to advance this project. However, progress has been hindered by issues related to land acquisition and the development of necessary infrastructure, particularly road connectivity from the national highway.
Sources indicate that the Indian Air Force is in favor of sharing the airbase’s infrastructure for civil flights, as this would help in sharing operational and maintenance costs.
At one point, a retired officer from the Indian Air Force was tasked with coordinating between the state government and relevant agencies to push the project forward.
Experts believe that launching civil air services at Kalaikunda is crucial, as it is located just about 11 kilometers from the industrial town of Kharagpur. This proximity to the Odisha border also offers easy access to several major commercial centers in the neighboring state.
Officials are optimistic that the civil enclave, operating under the central government’s UDAN scheme, could attract a significant number of passengers and strengthen regional connectivity.
About a year ago, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya raised this issue in Parliament. At that time, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that it is the state government’s responsibility to provide land for airport projects under the National Civil Aviation Policy-2016.
The minister mentioned that the Airports Authority of India has requested the West Bengal government to allocate 38.25 acres of land for the new civil enclave at Kalaikunda Air Force Station. He also noted that the AAI has been in continuous contact with the state government regarding this matter.
Naidu clarified that work on the project could commence once the necessary land is made available and all required approvals are obtained.
Similarly, there is a proposal to develop a civil enclave at the Hasimara Air Force Station in North Bengal, which is located near the Bhutan border.
Officials believe that establishing a civil enclave at Hasimara will boost tourism in Bhutan and also stimulate economic activities in the surrounding forest areas and tea plantation regions.
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