Bagdogra Airport Expansion Gains Momentum: AAI Accepts Financial Offer for New Terminal and Infrastructure
Dramatic Upgrade Expected to Ease Congestion and Boost Connectivity in North Bengal
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has accepted the financial offer for the civil construction of the new terminal building and related infrastructure at the Bagdogra airport.
After this, the airport's work is probably about to start.
The Darjeeling MP, Raju Bista, said on Monday that almost all of the pre-construction processes have been completed with the clearance of the financial offer.
The busiest airport in our area (north Bengal) is this one. It will now be equipped with the essential infrastructure to manage passenger loads from both local and foreign destinations. We anticipate beginning construction shortly," he said.
The Bagdogra airport's infrastructure was cleared by the Center to be expanded for Rs 3,000 crore in June of last year.
The airport can accommodate 400 passengers per hour in its 8,000 square meter terminal building. However, the airport now handles around 8,000 people and 60 flights each day, which has resulted in congestion in the arrival and departure sectors as well as the terminal building.
The terminal building is expected to be one lakh square meters in size.
"Approximately 50,000 square meters will be constructed in the first phase, with the ability to accommodate 3,800 people in an hour. The first phase is anticipated to be completed in 2.5 years after construction begins, according to Bista, who is also the head of the advisory group for the airport.
In addition, ten aerobridges and a multi-level parking lot will be present. In the first phase, six aerobridges will be constructed. 16 airplanes may park together on the apron, according to a source.
Travel sector players said that the airport's expansion would incentivize airlines to provide additional services at Bagdogra airport.
There will be a growing movement to resume flights from Bagdogra to Dhaka and Kathmandu.
As the Lok Sabha elections approached, political analysts noted that the BJP was prepared to use the infrastructure card to garner support in north Bengal. A four-lane highway between the northwest and northeast of Siliguri, the New Jalpaiguri station, and the Bagdogra airport have all received funding during the last year.
District Trinamul officials said that by granting the AAI more than 100 acres of land, the state was instrumental in the plans for the airport's growth.
