The Centre and West Bengal government have signed an agreement under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme for the development of four airports in the state.
The four airports will come up at Chharra in Purulia, Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur, Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur and Hasimara in Alipurduar. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were present at the signing ceremony in Kolkata.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
MoU signed between the Centre and West Bengal under the UDAN scheme.
Four airports are planned at Chharra, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Hasimara.
The projects are targeted for development over the next two years.
Around Rs 29,000 crore is planned under UDAN in West Bengal over the next ten years.
A second major airport for Kolkata has also been highlighted as a requirement.
Naidu said the four airports are expected to be developed over the next two years. He said the projects would help strengthen air connectivity across West Bengal and support economic activity in different parts of the state.
The Minister also highlighted the need for a second major airport in Kolkata to meet growing demand for air connectivity. He urged the state government to formulate a civil aviation policy to attract investment in the aviation sector.
Naidu said around Rs 29,000 crore is planned to be spent under the UDAN scheme in West Bengal over the next ten years.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The projects are expected to expand air connectivity beyond Kolkata and improve access to several districts of West Bengal, supporting tourism, trade and regional economic activity.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has also sought greater connectivity from West Bengal to destinations including European cities, Ayodhya, Tirupati and Amritsar. The state is separately pursuing a proposed greenfield airport at Kalyani, where the process of identifying land has begun.
The four airport projects are expected to improve regional connectivity and support tourism, trade, investment and economic activity across West Bengal.
