Archive · 6 Oct 2026
West Bengal Plans Four Airports, Centre Backs Second Kolkata Hub
West Bengal and the central government signed an agreement to develop four airports.
They are planned for Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Chharra.
The minister said the work is expected to happen over the next two years.
He said the state’s airport count could grow from four to eight.
The Centre plans to spend ₹29,000 crore on the UDAN scheme in West Bengal over 10 years.
The Centre also said it would support a second airport for Kolkata, for which the state has identified land at Kalyani.
The chief minister asked for more direct international flights from Kolkata and suggested adding Malda and Cooch Behar to future airport plans.
Officials also discussed strengthening existing airports and attracting investment in aviation.
An agreement between the Centre and West Bengal provides for four airports at Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Chharra within two years.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the projects could raise the state’s airport count from four to eight.
Naidu said ₹29,000 crore would be spent on UDAN in West Bengal over the next 10 years.
The Centre backed a proposed second Kolkata airport at Kalyani, where the state has identified 2,000 acres.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari sought more direct international flights from Kolkata and urged the Centre to include Malda and Cooch Behar in a future development phase.
- Who
- Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- What
- They signed an agreement to develop four airports under UDAN and discussed wider airport and air-connectivity plans.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday, October 5; the four airports are planned within the next two years.
- Where
- West Bengal, with proposed airports at Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Chharra.
- Why
- To expand regional air connectivity and the state's aviation infrastructure.
- Scheme
- UDAN regional connectivity scheme
- Proposed airports
- Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Chharra
- Planned timeline
- Within the next two years
- Planned UDAN spending
- ₹29,000 crore in West Bengal over 10 years, according to Naidu
- Existing airstrips
- Hasimara and Kalaikunda have 2,700-metre airstrips, according to Naidu
- Second Kolkata airport
- The Centre backed the proposal; the state has identified 2,000 acres at Kalyani
- Other requests
- Adhikari sought direct international flights from Kolkata and proposed Malda and Cooch Behar for a future airport-development phase
