Bagdogra Airport expansion set to begin soon

22 Jun 2023 CW Team

Ravi Sarkar, Joint General Manager, Bagdogra Airport Authority, stated that they had been eagerly awaiting the handover of the entire land, which they have finally received. He further added that after formulating a master plan for the project, they would initiate the tender process in the following month.

Bagdogra Airport holds significant importance in Northeast India as it serves as a crucial transportation hub for numerous passengers travelling to different parts of the country on a daily basis. The airport has witnessed a noticeable surge in passenger traffic, leading to the decision to expand its infrastructure. Moreover, the absence of night flights has further intensified the need for expansion.

A total of 104 acre of land has been finalised for the expansion project, with the state government previously allocating approximately 98.72 acre. However, the work faced delays due to the remaining land falling under the jurisdiction of the Air Force.

The Air Force authorities finally handed over the remaining 6 acre of land to the airport authority.

According to sources at the airport, Bagdogra Airport currently handles around 60 flights daily, with an average of nine to ten thousand passengers passing through its premises each day.

Initially, the Central government had planned to allocate Rs 15 billion for the expansion project, but the funding was subsequently increased to Rs 18 billion.

During a public event in Siliguri, Raju Bista, the Member of Parliament for Darjeeling, recently announced a further increase in funding to Rs 30 billion.

Upon completion of the expansion, Bagdogra Airport will have the capability to operate night flights, including international routes. Additionally, the passenger capacity will witness a significant boost, addressing the growing demand for air travel in the region.

Also read:
HP cabinet okays land acquisition for Gaggal airport
Panel from Environment Ministry approves Sabarimala airport TOR

The expansion of Bagdogra Airport is scheduled to commence soon as the Bagdogra Airport authority has been handed over the remaining land by the Air Force. In a positive development, it was announced by the Central government that the sanctioned amount for the project has been increased from Rs 18 billion to Rs 30 billion. Ravi Sarkar, Joint General Manager, Bagdogra Airport Authority, stated that they had been eagerly awaiting the handover of the entire land, which they have finally received. He further added that after formulating a master plan for the project, they would initiate the tender process in the following month. Bagdogra Airport holds significant importance in Northeast India as it serves as a crucial transportation hub for numerous passengers travelling to different parts of the country on a daily basis. The airport has witnessed a noticeable surge in passenger traffic, leading to the decision to expand its infrastructure. Moreover, the absence of night flights has further intensified the need for expansion. A total of 104 acre of land has been finalised for the expansion project, with the state government previously allocating approximately 98.72 acre. However, the work faced delays due to the remaining land falling under the jurisdiction of the Air Force. The Air Force authorities finally handed over the remaining 6 acre of land to the airport authority. According to sources at the airport, Bagdogra Airport currently handles around 60 flights daily, with an average of nine to ten thousand passengers passing through its premises each day. Initially, the Central government had planned to allocate Rs 15 billion for the expansion project, but the funding was subsequently increased to Rs 18 billion. During a public event in Siliguri, Raju Bista, the Member of Parliament for Darjeeling, recently announced a further increase in funding to Rs 30 billion. Upon completion of the expansion, Bagdogra Airport will have the capability to operate night flights, including international routes. Additionally, the passenger capacity will witness a significant boost, addressing the growing demand for air travel in the region. Also read: HP cabinet okays land acquisition for Gaggal airportPanel from Environment Ministry approves Sabarimala airport TOR

Equipment

03 Jun 2026

John Crane Retrofit Cuts Water Use at Copper Mine Pump

John Crane has retrofitted a mechanical seal on a large underflow thickener slurry pump at a major copper mining operation, reducing sealing water consumption by around 288,000 litres per day while improving maintenance efficiency on a critical asset.The retrofit replaced the pump's traditional stuffing box arrangement, which required shaft sleeve replacement every four months due to abrasive wear. These maintenance activities involved significant downtime, a 100-tonne crane and extensive manpower.John Crane developed a mechanical seal package that could be installed without modifying the exis..

Resources

03 Jun 2026

TKIL Industries Appoints Gaurav Srivastava as CFO

TKIL Industries has appointed Gaurav Kumar Srivastava as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1 June 2026. He succeeds Ketan Pendse, Chief Financial Officer and Whole-time Director, who is stepping down after more than two decades with the company. Srivastava previously served as Executive Vice President, Finance & Taxation.Announcing the appointment, Vivek Bhatia, Managing Director & CEO, TKIL Industries, thanked Pendse for his long-standing contribution to the organisation and wished him success in his future endeavours.Bhatia said, “Gaurav’s appointment reflects our continued focus ..

Technology

03 Jun 2026

Siemens Launches Intelligence Center X for AI

Siemens has launched Intelligence Center X, an industrial AI orchestration software designed to help organisations move from isolated AI pilots to scalable business impact. The software enables people and AI agents to work together through shared context, workflows and lifecycle intelligence.Part of Siemens Xcelerator, Intelligence Center X connects industrial data, models and workflows on a governed foundation, allowing companies to deploy AI-driven applications and agents with traceability and control. It combines the Mendix low-code platform with Siemens’ Graph Studio and AI Studio softwa..