📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Joydeep
National
Centre and West Bengal Ink MoU for Four New Airports to Enhance Connectivity
✍️ News On AIR
🗓 07 Oct 2026, 07:01 AM
👁 7
The Union government and West Bengal have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop four new airports, aiming to improve regional air links.
New Delhi and Kolkata officials concluded a memorandum of understanding today to initiate the construction of four new airports across West Bengal. The agreement, signed by senior representatives of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the state government, outlines a collaborative framework for land acquisition, funding and project execution.
The proposed airports are slated to serve under‑served districts, reducing travel time for residents and boosting economic activity in the region. Detailed project reports will be prepared in the coming weeks, after which the central government is expected to release the required financial outlay under its regional connectivity scheme.
Both sides emphasized that the new infrastructure will complement existing hubs like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, creating a network that can attract airlines and promote tourism. The MoU also calls for adherence to environmental norms and the involvement of local stakeholders throughout the development process.
Implementation is projected to begin early next year, subject to clearances from the aviation regulator and state authorities. The initiative aligns with the broader national goal of expanding air connectivity to tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities under the UDAN scheme.
Stakeholders anticipate that the airports will generate employment opportunities, stimulate ancillary industries and provide a catalyst for balanced regional growth in West Bengal.
The proposed airports are slated to serve under‑served districts, reducing travel time for residents and boosting economic activity in the region. Detailed project reports will be prepared in the coming weeks, after which the central government is expected to release the required financial outlay under its regional connectivity scheme.
Both sides emphasized that the new infrastructure will complement existing hubs like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, creating a network that can attract airlines and promote tourism. The MoU also calls for adherence to environmental norms and the involvement of local stakeholders throughout the development process.
Implementation is projected to begin early next year, subject to clearances from the aviation regulator and state authorities. The initiative aligns with the broader national goal of expanding air connectivity to tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities under the UDAN scheme.
Stakeholders anticipate that the airports will generate employment opportunities, stimulate ancillary industries and provide a catalyst for balanced regional growth in West Bengal.