Behala Flying Club to get new lease of life

KOLKATA: The Behala Flying Club will get a fresh lease of life after a decade and half when Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel lays the foundation for an airport there on Sunday.

The airport on the southern fringe of Kolkata will develop into a modern facility for regional flights within a year and also train pilots, S P S Bakshi, Regional Executive Director (East) of the Airports Authority of India said.

An agreement has been signed between Behala Flying Club and Camelia Flying Training Institute, which has taken it over with an investment of about Rs 35 crore to train pilots.

The AAI has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for upgrading the runway, installing ground lights and building a boundary wall, Bakshi said.

The air traffic control tower has been equipped with a VHF set to provide navigational support, while steps are being taken to strengthen the runway.

Tenders have been floated by the AAI for installing approach lights on either side of the 3,500-foot runway and to build a boundary wall to facilitate operations by ATR aircraft. The work is in progress, Bakshi said.

In the second phase of the project, the runway will be extended to 4,500 feet and a passenger terminal building will be built the West Bengal government allots land and develops infrastructure for easy access to the airport.

Bakshi said safety aspects of the project will be reviewed thoroughly before beginning passenger flights.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will be present at the foundation-laying ceremony.

Referring to the reopening of the modernised Coochbehar airport in north Bengal, Bakshi said it had been ready since August 15 and a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been issued in this regard. The NOTAM provides details of services provided by AAI.

"Now it is up to operators. The inauguration will take place only when operators introduce services," Bakshi said.