Centre Weighs Plan for Four New Airports in West Bengal, Two at IAF Bases
The Union government is assessing whether four new airports can be developed in West Bengal, officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation have said. The proposal involves reviving the airstrips at Balurghat and Purulia, and setting up commercial aviation facilities at the Indian Air Force (IAF) bases at Kalaikunda and Hasimara.
"The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is preparing a detailed project report for the four airports and will assess whether airline services there are feasible," officials said.
The officials said it was not yet clear whether the airports would be developed under the UDAN scheme, as the proposal is still at an early stage.
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is the Centre's regional connectivity scheme. It subsidises airlines that operate flights to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and in return caps fares on these routes so that tickets remain affordable for ordinary passengers.
Civil enclaves at air force stations
Kalaikunda and Hasimara are IAF stations. Creating a civil enclave at a defence airfield allows civilian aircraft to use the existing runway and related infrastructure. This model is already followed at several defence airfields across the country.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha in August 2026 that there were plans to use the Kalaikunda and Hasimara bases for commercial flights, but that "the requisite land has not been handed over by the State Government."
The AAI has asked the West Bengal government to provide 38.25 acres of land at Kalaikunda and 38 acres at Hasimara for the two civil enclaves.
With the BJP having defeated the Trinamool Congress in the 2026 Assembly election and formed the government in West Bengal, officials said the land-related hurdles are likely to be easier to clear. The State government's response to the proposal was not immediately known.
Wider push for regional airports
The Ministry of Civil Aviation signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with 21 States and Union Territories on Tuesday, asking them to take the lead under the scheme and propose new regional connectivity airports.
Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said the move would help create 100 more airports over the next 10 years.
The Union Cabinet in March 2026 approved a "Modified UDAN" scheme for another 10 years, with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore.
What the four sites mean for the State
The four locations, if cleared, would improve air access to districts that currently lie far from the nearest functional airport. Balurghat is the headquarters of Dakshin Dinajpur district in the northern part of the State; Purulia lies in the west; Kalaikunda is in Paschim Medinipur district; and Hasimara is in Alipurduar district in the north-east.
Officials, however, stressed that no timeline has been fixed. The project will depend on the outcome of the feasibility study, the availability of land, and the willingness of airlines to operate services on these routes.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to expand air connectivity beyond major metropolitan cities, where most of India's aviation traffic is currently concentrated.
