Bengal budget proposes 2nd Kolkata airport near Kalyani, 3 new airports
Times of India | 23 June 2026
KOLKATA: Signalling a major aviation and infrastructure push, the Bengal BJP govt's maiden budget unveiled plans for a second airport serving the Kolkata region and new airports at Purulia, Balurghat and Malda under the Centre's UDAN scheme.
It also announced the expansion of the existing airport at Cooch Behar and providing additional land to Hasimara Air Force Station and Kalaikunda Air Force Station. "Kolkata Airport is facing significant passenger congestion and there is a need for having second airport in Kolkata to boost regional economy. The govt will identify 1,000-1,500 acres of land near Kalyani to set up a new green field airport near Kolkata," Swapan Dasguta said.
The Union civil aviation ministry has been requested the state govt for land to set up a second airport for Kolkata as the current airport cannot expand beyond 56 million per annum by 2035 after construction of new terminals. The current capacity of Kolkata airport is 28 million per annum and it handled around 24 million passengers last year.
Both Delhi and Mumbai have a second airport - Noida International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport. Sources said a stretch of land extending from the rear side of AIIMS Kalyani to Narapati Para in Simurali under the Chakdaha Assembly constituency is being considered as a potential location for the greenfield airport.
The site is close to NH-12, around 60 km from the existing Kolkata airport and hour's drive from there. Sources claimed a soil testing had been conducted and the land had successfully met the parameters. In the Budget, Dasgupta proposed new airports in Purulia, Balurghat and Malda to make air travel more accessible and affordable and to strengthen regional tourism under the Centre's UDAN scheme. He also allocated Rs 10 crore to expand the existing airport at Cooch Behar.
The finance minister also announced State Government will provide 25 acres of land to Hasimara Air Force Station and 37 acres of land to Kalaikunda Air Force Station for expansion and proper development of these strategic facilities.