Bagdogra airport had been closed for about two weeks after the detection of cracks on the primary runway.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) completed the repairing works at the Bagdogra airport in north Bengal, allowing civil flights to operate. This airport is the only airport that connects north Bengal to the rest of the country. The IAF is responsible for Air Traffic Control (ATC). IAF said that the resurfacing on the central bituminous portion of the runway had been completed on time. The runway was closed for about two weeks to lay three flexible bituminous layers, reconstruct non-load bearing surfaces, and other work. It included reconstruction of the concrete portions at each end of the runway and widening the taxi tracks and links according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The work had been executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and completed expeditiously to prevent harassment of civilian fliers. Bagdogra airport also operates as a diversionary airbase for the IAF for its aircraft taking off from Air Force Station, Hasimara, West Bengal. The IAF said that Bagdogra is not just important from the strategic point of view but is also for promoting tourism and trade in the region. It connects places like Darjeeling, Siliguri and also Sikkim with the rest of the world. After the repair works, about 8,000 passengers can use the airport every day. Recently, all trains from Howrah and Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri ran fully packed with not only tourists but also those engaged in trade and commerce business in north Bengal. Image Source
