Civil enclave plan at Kalaikunda air base revived after change of guard in West Bengal

Kolkata, June 8 (IANS) The possibility of a civil enclave at Air Force Station Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district of West Bengal has been revived following the change of government in the state.

For over a decade, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have been pursuing the matter with the West Bengal government. However, little progress was made regarding land acquisition and the creation of necessary infrastructure, including road connectivity to the nearest highway.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also been keen on sharing infrastructure with civilian flights, as such arrangements help in cost-sharing.

At one stage, a retired IAF officer was appointed to liaise with the state government on the project. A civilian airport at Kalaikunda is considered important because of its proximity to the industrial hub of Kharagpur, which is around 11 km away.

Kharagpur is also close to the state’s border with Odisha and several important towns in the neighbouring state that have significant business activity. Officials believe a civil enclave operated under the Government of India’s UDAN scheme would attract substantial passenger traffic.

BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya had raised the issue in Parliament about a year ago. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu had then explained that under the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the responsibility for providing land for airport projects rests with the state government.

The AAI has projected a requirement of 38.25 acres of land to the West Bengal government for the creation of a new civil enclave at Air Force Station Kalaikunda, the minister had said. The AAI has also remained in regular contact with the state government on the matter, Naidu had stated.

Work on the civil enclave can begin once the required land is made available and the necessary clearances are obtained, he had added. A similar civil enclave has also been proposed at Air Force Station Hasimara in north Bengal, located close to the Bhutan border.

Officials believe a civil enclave there could boost tourism to Bhutan as well as to the surrounding forest and tea garden regions.

–IANS

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