Eye on tea land for airport.... Talks on to acquire plots for Bagdogra revamp

The Terminal of the Bagdogra airport. File picture

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri: The Bengal government has started talks with owners of two tea estates located close to the Bagdogra airport to acquire some portions of the gardens' land which could be used to augment the infrastructure of the aerodrome.

The proposed establishment of a new terminal and an apron at the airport couldn't be taken up as the Bengal government had expressed inability to provide over 100 acres for the expansion.

Eventually, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) scaled down the plan and asked for around 40 acres.

The AAI does not acquire or purchase land required for airports. It approaches state governments that hand over the land.

The Bengal government doesn't own land at all near the Bagdogra airport.

A Bengal minister has said on condition of anonymity that the state started talks with the two gardens which are contiguous to the airport.

"We have carried out a survey and found that there are tea plantations in the contiguous stretches of the airport. If the terminal and other facilities are required to be expanded, these stretches should be acquired. That is why talks have been initiated with owners of both the gardens," said the minister.

The passenger traffic at Bagdogra is growing by leaps and bounds every year, along with the number of flights.

According to an AAI official, the expansion of the airport is of urgency as the number of passengers has crossed the 2.1 million mark in the current fiscal.

"We are having around 26 flights, meaning 52 movements from Sunday and it will continue till October. The current terminal can handle only 400-odd passengers an hour but considering the rise in flights and passengers, we immediately need a building with appropriate infrastructure to handle 1,000 passengers an hour," the official said.

An official of the state transport department also pointed out that considering the steep rise in passenger movement at Bagdogra, the bengal government also "softened" its stance.

In January last year, when relations between the state and the Centre had deteriorated, Calcutta had planned to intimate Delhi that it couldn't provide land free of cost for the airport's expansion.

"The cost of land has to be borne by the state and that was also a reason for the delay in taking a decision. As the tea garden land has been leased out, it is obvious that the state will have to take it back by paying compensation. It might take some more time but it is good that at least, the ball has started rolling," the official said.