1st of 3 restroom blocks on airport’s upper arrival level open to flyers
Times of India | 3 February 2026
Kolkata: The first of the three restroom blocks for flyers on the upper arrival level of Kolkata airport, where passengers enter the domestic terminal via aerobridges, became operational on Monday, bringing relief to travellers.
Two other sets of toilet blocks that are under construction are expected to be ready by April, airport officials said.
The three restrooms will cater to passengers stepping into the terminal through 11 arrival gates — 14 to 25 — on the upper arrival level.
The new restroom will bring relief to particularly those arriving on flights from Mumbai, Goa, Ahmedabad or Bengaluru that take over two-and-a-half hours. They will no longer need to exercise extreme bladder control after alighting at Kolkata airport.
These restrooms have set a design flaw right in the terminal that was constructed 13 years ago. While all airports usually have restrooms near aerobridges, flyers in Kolkata had to walk past the entire length of the upper arrival area on the mezzanine level, then take the escalator or step down to the lower arrival area and walk the length of the luggage belt and beyond to access the restrooms.
Passengers who arrived on flights on Monday were pleasantly surprised to see the new toilet block with restrooms for women, men and the disabled, on exiting the aerobridges.
A flyer from Mumbai, Rohit Agarwal, said it was much needed and would be immensely convenient for passengers reaching Kolkata.
"During flights, when the captain makes the announcement that the descent has begun, people make a beeline for the washroom, often clogging the galley. Crew restrict access to aircraft restrooms almost 20 minutes before touchdown. Many flyers, particularly the elderly, can't wait long," he pointed out. Flyers recounted anxious minutes spent speed-walking through corridors with cabin bags in tow, hoping to spot a restroom sign before discomfort turned into distress. "After a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Delhi, those last 15 minutes feel endless," said a frequent flyer, Dwaipayan Roy.