Siliguri, January 30: The defence ministry
has issued a no-objection certificate to the Bengal government
regarding the proposed upgrade of Bagdogra airport to international
status.
State urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya
disclosed this at the third district council meeting of Paschimbanga
Vigyan Mancha held at Siliguri College today. “We met
the additional secretary and director of the defence ministry
over the Bagdogra issue in Delhi a few weeks ago. The talks
appear to have been fruitful as they have already written
to our chief secretary, stating that they do not have any
objection if Bagdogra is upgraded to an international airport,”
he said.
The defence nod was required as the Indian Air Force (IAF)
shares infrastructure at the Bagdogra air base with the Airports
Authority of India.
“To upgrade Bagdogra airport, it is
essential to extend and build new runways, a lounge and other
infrastructure,” Bhattacharya said. “As we now
have the defence clearance, the chief minister will write
to the civil aviation ministry, which must play a major role
in the whole process.”
The air officer commanding-in chief of
the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Fali Homi Major, whose
area of responsibility covers Bagdogra, said: “We have
had discussions with the (Bengal) government. The matter is
very much on the agenda.”
Air Marshal Major has been named as the
next Chief of Air Staff. The final approval of plans for IAF-controlled
airports rests with the air force headquarters. When Major
moves to the headquarters on March 31 (the day he takes charge),
he can be expected to give the Bagdogra plans a boost because
he is thoroughly conversant with the issue.
At today’s meet, Bhattacharya spoke
of industrialisation and urban development as “two unalienable
ingredients of any developing economy”. “In the
past 30 years, 35 new towns have come up in the state, reflecting
the emergence of the service sector and industries where people
no longer depend on agriculture.
Courtesy : The Telegraph |
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