Kolkata Second Airport News: West Bengal Identifies 2,000 Acres in Kalyani
Kolkata Second Airport News
The West Bengal government has identified around 2,000 acres of land in Kalyani, Nadia district, for the development of Kolkata’s second greenfield airport. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who said the proposed airport would strengthen the state’s aviation infrastructure and improve regional connectivity.
The new airport is expected to support the growing demand for air travel in and around Kolkata while encouraging economic development across the region.
According to government officials, the identified land stretches from the rear side of AIIMS Kalyani to Narapati Para in Simurali, located under the Chakdaha Assembly constituency. The proposed site is situated near National Highway-12 (NH-12), making it easily accessible by road. It is approximately 60 kilometres from the existing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, and the journey is expected to take around one hour by car.
Officials also stated that preliminary soil testing has been conducted and that the selected land meets the required technical parameters for airport development. The proposed airport is planned as a greenfield airport, which means it will be built on previously undeveloped land instead of expanding an existing airport.
Greenfield airports allow planners to design modern aviation infrastructure from the beginning, including longer runways, advanced passenger terminals, cargo facilities, and space for future expansion. If approved, the project could become one of the largest aviation infrastructure developments in West Bengal in recent years. The second airport is expected to improve air connectivity for Kolkata and nearby districts. As passenger numbers continue to increase, the new airport could reduce congestion at the existing Kolkata airport while providing additional capacity for domestic and international flights.
The airport may also improve travel for residents of Nadia and surrounding districts by bringing aviation services closer to their region. Improved connectivity could also encourage airlines to introduce new domestic and international routes.
During the event organised by the state’s Transport Department, Chief Minister Adhikari also announced that West Bengal has joined the Central Government’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Regional Connectivity Scheme. The UDAN scheme aims to make air travel affordable while improving connectivity between smaller cities and regional airports across India.
According to the Chief Minister, the state has received support from the Central Government for expanding airports at:
- Balurghat
- Malda
- Purulia
These projects are expected to improve regional air connectivity and create new opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment. The Chief Minister reiterated the state’s commitment to modernising transport infrastructure in coordination with the Central Government. He said investments in airports, roads, and other transport facilities would strengthen economic development and improve connectivity across West Bengal.
Large infrastructure projects such as airports often create employment opportunities during both construction and operation while encouraging business growth in nearby areas. During his speech, Chief Minister Adhikari also spoke about Kolkata’s international air services. He claimed that Kolkata previously had direct air connections with several European destinations but lost many of these routes over the years.
According to him, the previous government did not sufficiently strengthen the state’s aviation sector, resulting in the discontinuation of several international flights. He stated that Kolkata currently does not have direct flight connectivity to major European cities, including London. Improving aviation infrastructure, he suggested, could help attract more airlines and encourage the return of long-distance international routes in the future.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
