Patel announces Behala airport project

Kolkata: At a foundation stone laying ceremony for air-side development work at the Behala Flying Club, Mr Praful Patel, union minister of state for civil aviation said the ministry is planning to develop the airport in Behala as an auxiliary one to the NSC Bose International Airport in Dum Dum, for operating smaller aircraft. The announcement came with a rider that the state government will have to provide land for stretching the runway to facilitate landing of ATR aircraft.
“The airport in Behala will be developed to handle commercial operations of smaller aircraft. For this the runway has to be extended to 4,500 feet from the present 3,500 feet. About 30 acres of land will be required for that and to build a passenger terminal building,” Mr Patel said.
“This airport, when it comes up, will reduce the pressure on Dum Dum airport as the smaller aircraft and helicopters could be operated from here,” Mr Bhattacharjee said. He evaded the land issue and requested local members of parliament to help the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to acquire the same. The airport will develop into a modern facility for regional flights within a year and also train pilots, the minister said.
Meanwhile, the Behala Flying Club and Camelia Flying Training Institute have entered into a joint venture to set up an institute with an investment of approximately Rs 35 crore to train pilots.
23/09/07 The Statesman

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Categories: Airports Sep 2007, New Sep 2007