Pvt cos to be allowed to build small airports in West Bengal
The West Bengal government has decided to allow private firms to set up small airports across the state.
By TNN |
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has decided to allow private firms to set up small airports across the state. This was indicated by state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The state government’s move is in step with the Union civil aviation ministry’s bid to create regional airports across the country to enable movement of small aircraft from Tier-II and Tier-III cities and towns. In fact, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said the central government planned to establish 500 airports, mainly regional, within the next four years.
Mr Bhattacharjee, who was addressing the 120th AGM of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BNCCI), said: “We have decided to develop two small airports near Kolkata, one at Kanchrapara and the other at Barrackpore.”
Interestingly, Kanchrapara has an abandoned airstrip which was used during World War II as the airbase for Supermarine Spitfires, a British single-seat fighter aircraft. Similarly, there is an abandoned airstrip in Barrackpore, where many races were held earlier.
Elaborating on the plan to develop small airports, Mr Bhattacharjee said, “These airstrips belong to Indian Air Force. We requested them to allow us to develop these airstrips for passenger movement. They have agreed to use these airstrips for civil aviation purpose. Both these airports will be developed by private parties. We will follow the ‘Andal model’ for developing these airports.”
Incidentally, Pragati Social Infrastructure, a private firm, is developing an airport at Andal, close to the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt. The chief minister said Air France had evinced an interest to start flights from Kolkata to Paris. “China too, is keen to start flights from Kolkata. In fact, China is setting up a consular office in the city, which will be operational from this year.”
Earlier, the CM informed BNCCI members the state government would shortly send the proposal to set up a chemical hub at Nayachar to the chemical and fertiliser ministry for its approval.
The state government’s move is in step with the Union civil aviation ministry’s bid to create regional airports across the country to enable movement of small aircraft from Tier-II and Tier-III cities and towns. In fact, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said the central government planned to establish 500 airports, mainly regional, within the next four years.
Mr Bhattacharjee, who was addressing the 120th AGM of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BNCCI), said: “We have decided to develop two small airports near Kolkata, one at Kanchrapara and the other at Barrackpore.”
Interestingly, Kanchrapara has an abandoned airstrip which was used during World War II as the airbase for Supermarine Spitfires, a British single-seat fighter aircraft. Similarly, there is an abandoned airstrip in Barrackpore, where many races were held earlier.
Elaborating on the plan to develop small airports, Mr Bhattacharjee said, “These airstrips belong to Indian Air Force. We requested them to allow us to develop these airstrips for passenger movement. They have agreed to use these airstrips for civil aviation purpose. Both these airports will be developed by private parties. We will follow the ‘Andal model’ for developing these airports.”
Incidentally, Pragati Social Infrastructure, a private firm, is developing an airport at Andal, close to the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt. The chief minister said Air France had evinced an interest to start flights from Kolkata to Paris. “China too, is keen to start flights from Kolkata. In fact, China is setting up a consular office in the city, which will be operational from this year.”
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Earlier, the CM informed BNCCI members the state government would shortly send the proposal to set up a chemical hub at Nayachar to the chemical and fertiliser ministry for its approval.
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