Deb nudge to Centre on Bagdogra ILS

The Bagdogra airport

AVIJIT SINHA, TT:  Siliguri: Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb on Saturday blamed the Centre and agencies working under it for the delay in the commissioning of the Instrumental Landing System (ILS) at Bagdogra airport, reminding Delhi that the state had already given land for it.

His assertions follow the unequivocal remarks by Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who, while speaking to newspersons at the airport on Friday, had said that the only deterrent in the way of expansion of the airport's infrastructure was lack of land.

"The Union civil aviation minister should know that we have provided around 26 acres of land for installation and commissioning of ILS at the airport. But it is disappointing that despite land being handed over and necessary works done by the local officials of AAI, the final approval for commissioning of the ILS has not yet come from Delhi," said Deb.

ILS is a sophisticated machine run system used in airports to guide flights during landing and take-off, particularly when the weather is increment and after sunset.

Deb pointed out that if the ILS is commissioned, it can help in easing the load over Bagdogra.

"The airport here is a civil enclave. Even then, the Indian Air Force has given permission to use the runway, air traffic control and other facilities till 10pm. If ILS is installed, flights can run in the evening hours. It is natural that there will be options for more flights and also, airline companies can be approached to run flights in the evening, instead of only in the afternoon hours, when the airport get packed with passengers," the minister said.

AAI sources said that after receiving land from the state, they had already expanded the runway, installed strobe lights (which guide the aircrafts) and other necessary equipment.

"All documents are with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). We are waiting for their nod to commission ILS and hope to get it soon. The winter season has already commenced and soon, there will be the problem of poor visibility due to fog," said a source.

On Friday, Rakesh Sahay, the airport director of Bagdogra, had apprised the Union minister about ILS and that it is yet to start working at the airport.

"The minister had asked me about ILS. I have briefed him elaborately," was all that Sahay said.

Deb also mentioned that they were scouting for land.

"It is true that Bagdogra airport needs expansion, considering the steep rise in number of passengers. But the state does not own any land in the adjoining locations. There are tea estates and private lands. Our officials are into talks with the concerned owners so that the issue can be resolved. It would be wrong to infer that the state is not providing land," he said.