Work on airport approach set to end your crawl before your flight
Times of India | 8 September 2025
Kolkata: From shortened median dividers and footpaths to make way for more carriageway, removal of encroachments, and shifting of a traffic kiosk, a comprehensive set of infrastructure changes is underway at the Airport Gate No.1 crossing on VIP Road.
These changes aim to make the crossing congestion-free and help the journey to and from the airport smoother for passengers.
A senior officer of Bidhannagar Traffic Police said, "We are removing illegal encroachments and shanties from a 12-metre lane between Airport Hotel crossing and Airport Gate No.1 Road. This will allow vehicles heading to Nagerbazar from VIP Road to take a left turn without travelling all the way to the main Airport Gate No.1 crossing."
A significant change includes chopping off a 6-metre portion of the median divider at the end of VIP Road to allow smoother U-turns at the airport gate 1 crossing. It will also ensure vehicles coming from Nagerbazar towards Kolkata airport and those heading to Barasat from VIP Road can take smooth turns. This move is also designed to reduce the current practice of vehicles making U-turns from Jessore Road – VIP Road crossing or from a right-turn service road, which frequently causes congestion.
A senior PWD officialexplained, "Our plan focuses on widening the main carriageway by shortening the service road and median dividers. The traffic kiosk and signal unit previously at Jessore Road – VIP Road junction are being relocated deeper inside VIP Road to facilitate continuous vehicle movement and prevent bottlenecks."
The initiative comes in the wake of a recent Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey by Airports Council International, where Kolkata Airport scored poorly in the parameter of ease of access.
A senior Kolkata airport official said, "Improving accessibility to the airport is a high priority for us. If these infrastructural measures help passengers experience a smoother journey to and from the airport, we appreciate the effort.
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The PWD is also constructing a new bus stand equipped with a wider footpath and overhead shade on VIP Road to facilitate smoother passenger flow. "We are shortening the median dividers and service roads carefully to maximise road space for vehicles while ensuring pedestrian safety,' said the official.
The divider separating the main carriageway from the service road on VIP Road is also being shortened at this crossing, leading to the shortening of the width of the service road. The airport – Rajarhat auto stand is also being shifted to a side, and encroachments on both flanks of VIP Road in this area are being removed.
"The new bus stand with a wider footpath and overhead shade will help passengers board vehicles without standing in the scorching sun or narrow pavements, which has been a major problem in this area," said Ramesh Mondal, a resident of Italgachha Road in Dum Dum, who boards a bus from the crossing to reach his office in Phoolbagan.
Officials said the ongoing work is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, barring any unforeseen delays.
"We are optimistic that these measures will significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve overall road safety on this busiest airport approach road," said a senior traffic department officer of Bidhannagar police.