Kolkata: The state government and Indian Authority Airport (AAI) have started a survey with land in Bagdogra before handover at the last around March-April.
This will open the way for the construction of a modern terminal building that is widely awaited to start afterwards.
The airport also entered for the increase in other major infrastructure with the Indian Air Force took the work of recarpeting from the runway after 25 years.
While this will mean a complete airport shutdown two weeks in April, it will ensure that the runway is again good to go for 25 years after the work is finished.
“After anticipation for many years, we approach the main development stage of the Bagdogra airport State.
We hope the survey is completed in two months and the next handover to AAI in April, “said Director of Bagdogra P Subramani Airport.
There are additional 3.5acre private land that must be obtained by the following state government to complete 104.6acre, where AAI has paid the state government.
AAI has allocated Rs 600 Crore to build Terminal 1 Lakh SQ M and allied facilities.
The terminal will have the capacity to handle 1.2crore passengers per year.
The terminal is currently spread over 8,000 SQ M and has the capacity to handle 7.5 lakh passengers per year, despite handling more than 30 passenger lakh in 2019 before the pandemic.
The number of daily flights also jumped from 10-11 to 37 in 2019.
“After the pandemic is complete, the airline will push more flights.
We have been limited by the crisis in the terminal room.
If everything goes well, the tender will be placed and completed this year and The new terminal construction must be completed in 24 months.
After that, the number of flights will soar, “he said.
Meanwhile, the IAF who maintains a runway and provides ATC services will carry out the basis repair work from April 11 to 25, requires the closure of the operation.
“This is a busy time for tourism but the runway work must be completed before it rains.
It is better to finish the current work when the number of daily passengers hover around 4,000-mark, unlike 9,000-10,000 later,” he said.