State hands over land for Bagdogra Airport plans; Bista thanks CM STATESMAN NEWS

SNS, SILIGURI, 31 MARCH 2022 : At a time when the common people as well as stakeholders of the tourism industry have expressed unhappiness at the decision to holt operations at the Bagdogra Airport for repair work in its runway from 11 April to 25 April, Darjeeling's BJP MP Raju Bista today revealed that the state government had  finally handed over land meant for the expansion of the airport.

Stating that the up-gradation and development of Bagdogra Airport was one of his priority projects, Mr Bista said: "Ever since my election as a Member of Parliament flout the  Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, the up-gradation and development of Bagdogra Airport has been one of my key priority areas."

"Despite the willingness of the central government to spend over Rs 600 crore towards the development of infrastructure and facilities at the Bagdogra Airport, the work could not be started due to the West Bengal government's repeated delay in handing over the land necessary for the development of the airport,"

Mr Bista said, adding, "However, I am happy to report that finally after a long struggle, the West Bengal government has handed over the land to the Airports Authority of India on the 16th of March, 2022."

According to the MP the information was shared by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen (Retd) VK Singh, who while answering to a question Mr Bista had raised in Parliament regarding the delay in the development of Bagdogra Airport, stated, 'The existing building at Bagdogra Airport is designed for a capacity of 0.75 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA). However, the actual footfall from 01.04.2021 to 28.02.2022 is 1.75 million. Land has been handed over to Airports Authority of India (AAI) by the Government of West Bengal on 16 March 2022, to construct a new terminal building to ease out the congestion."

"I thank West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for handing over the land for the development of Bagdogra Airport. This will ease air traffic woes, and ensure rapid development of tourism, trade and commerce in our region." Mr Bista said in a press statement. According to him, Bagdogra Airport is the only functional commercial airport in the North Bengal region and caters to people not only from North Bengal, but also to people from eastern Bihar, lower Assam and neighbouring countries.