Centre wants to build 2nd airport in Kolkata, Bengal govt hasn't given land yet, says Jyotiraditya Scindia
India Today
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said that the Centre has plans to build a second airport in Kolkata, but the West Bengal government has not yet provided land for it.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said that the Centre has elaborate infrastructure development plans for West Bengal, including a second airport for Kolkata, but the Mamata Banerjee government has not yet provided land for it.
Scindia claimed that he has been asking for a dialogue with the chief minister for six months for the purpose of setting up a second airport, since the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport has reached its capacity, but there has been no response from the other side so far.
"We want a new airport to be built in Kolkata. The existing one is at present running at maximum capacity and for several years, letters and views are being exchanged for a new site, but no concrete step has come from the state government," he told reporters at a press conference here.
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Maintaining that his ministry has elaborate plans for the development of civil aviation in West Bengal, Scindia asked how work for the proposed new airport would commence "until land is made available" to the Airports Authority of India.
"We are investing Rs 700 crore for the present (NSCBI) airport. A new technical block cum control tower will be made operational at a cost of Rs 300 crore," he said, adding that a new taxiway is being built for Rs 265 crore.
The minister said that Rs 110 crore is being invested for connecting the Metro Railway with the airport terminal building.
