AAI hopes govt will decide soon on removal of shrine from Kolkata airport runway

Kolkata The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is waiting for mid-December when Haj pilgrimage will be over. This is the time they hope the government will decide on the issue of removing a mosque situated on the secondary runway of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCB)in Kolkata.
The structure of the religious shrine on the runway remains a serious safety concern for the AAI. The assurance on the issue came from the state government after a meeting was held on August 19 between the state government led by then Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen and AAI officials led by Kolkata Airport director R Srinivasan.
“We have been told by the state government that they will do something after December this year when Haj will be over. But we have doubts as state Assembly elections are close by,” said an AAI official.
He further said the government can decide on the issue as it is armed with the Supreme Court order which banned religious shrines in public places by an order in July last year.
However, notwithstanding its assurance to AAI officials, the state government does not seem to have any plan for removal of the shrine.
07/11/10 Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay/ExpressIndia

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Categories: Airports Nov 2010