West Bengal’s first private airport is expected to be operational by March-April next year.
The airport is being developed near Durgapur — approximately 200 km south of Kolkata — by Bengal Aerotropolis Pvt Ltd (BAPL), a venture involving four Indian companies and the Singapore-based Changi Airports International.
“Nearly 80 per cent work has been completed. We are hoping that the project will be operational around the first half of next year, say, around March-April 2013,” Ang Cheng Nam, Vice-President, Changi Airports told
Ang was in the city to attend Bengal Builds, a conference on urban development.
Changi holds 26 per cent equity in the project.
The airport is being developed under direct technical assistance from Changi and will be fitted with modern night-landing facilities. “It will be run differently from other Indian airports,” he promised.
Talks are on with two domestic carriers — Air India and Jet Airways — to start operations in Durgapur.
Clearances
BAPL will also approach the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by the end of this year seeking licenses for its aerodrome, and inspection of its equipment and other facilities that include safety and security measures.
According to BAPL officials, efforts are on to attract airlines by making landing charges, airport usage fees, rentals, and night-parking facilities cheaper.
The attempt is to woo leading airlines to use the airport as a terminal point instead of Kolkata.
Sources suggest BAPL has also approached the State Government for sales tax concessions for refuelling.
Township
Apart from the Rs 600-crore domestic airport, with peak hour capacity of nearly 450 passengers, BAPL is also developing an airport city (aerotropolis) on an 1,800-acre plot.
According to Ang , more traffic is expected once the adjoining housing project takes shape.
“Initially, there will be some challenges as it’s a greenfield airport. However, once the township comes up we can expect more flow of passengers,” he said.