Kolkata, Sep 16 (IANS): A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the Union Government, West Bengal Government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for developing four more regional airports in West Bengal, will be signed next week.
The tripartite MoU will be signed at the main auditorium at the state secretariat, Nabanna on September 23, said a West Bengal government official.
The proposed sites of the four regional airports are Chharra in Purulia district, Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, Hasimara in Alipurduar district and Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district.
Hasimara and Kalaikunda are also important bases of the Indian Air Force.
“The state government will be responsible for providing the land, electricity, water and other services for the projects. The Union government will look after the development of airport infrastructure, and the Airports Authority of India will look after the air traffic. The MoU will be signed in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
“The Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh, Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India and MPs and MLAs from the respective districts are expected to be present on the occasion,” said a senior state government official.
According to him, the signing of this MoU will pave the way for further strengthening of air connectivity infrastructure and regional air services in Purulia, South Dinajpur, Alipurduar and West Midnapore.
“As per the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Union Government, the state government will take responsibility for the necessary land, connecting roads, power supply, water supply and basic security as per the agreement. On the other hand, the Union government will build the basic infrastructure of the airport,” the state government official said.
It is learnt that the initial work for the project at Chharra in Purulia district has already progressed a lot. The airport was built in 1942 for military needs during World War-II. It was actively used until 1945.
However, since then it has been completely abandoned. Although initiatives had been taken to start this airport again in the Left Front regime of West Bengal, the work did not progress much then.
