Turning a new leaf: Malda Airport renovation to begin soon

It is now just a matter of time for the renovation of Malda Airport to commence with the state Public Works Department (PWD) working on a war footing to start off with the task within the next two months.

Rites has prepared the Details Project Report (DPR) following the guidelines of the Airport Authorities of India (AAI).

Almost a "completely new" airport on the existing one, spread across 114 acres of land, will come up at a projected cost of Rs 13 crore.

Senior engineers of the state PWD has been going through the DPR followed by the authorities of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

"Subsequently, the work to construct the airport will begin," a senior engineer of the state PWD said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took the initiative to improve the air connectivity both within Bengal as well as in other states and different parts of the world. Thus, the step to renovate Malda and Balurghat airports was taken up after Cooch Behar.

The AAI has handed over the land of Balurghat and Malda airports to the state government for a period of 30 years at a lease value of Re 1.

The PWD engineer said if everything goes as planned, an administrative building and an all new air traffic control will be set up besides creating the necessary infrastructure to transform Malda Airport to a modern one.

The work to renovate Balurghat airport is almost complete and renovation of Malda Airport will take the air connectivity in the state to a whole new dimension.

Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Principal Secretary of the state Transport department, said: "There is a regional connectivity scheme of the Centre, UDAN and the state government has also accepted it. Thus, renovation of airports in places like Malda and Balurghat will help in the operation of flights from these places. It will improve the air-connectivity with north Bengal. Measures have been taken to initiate the air–connectivity as fast as possible.

It may be mentioned that after the change of guard in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken several steps to improve the air-connectivity from the state that lost its glory during the 34-year Left Front rule.