Bagdogra Airport to get new terminal, PM Modi to visit

PRASHANT ACHARYA

SILIGURI, : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bagdogra on March 3 to preside over the ground-breaking ceremony of the new terminal project of the airport. Besides this, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to inaugurate the new terminal initiated in phase 1 constructed by Kalpataru Projects International Ltd.

Reports suggest that the Prime Minister’s trip from New Delhi to Bagdogra, slated for 10 am via a specially arranged flight, will precede his departure to Guwahati following the inaugural event.

The announcement of Modi's impending visit to Bagdogra Airport was conveyed to airport authorities.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Thursday chaired the Airport Advisory Committee meeting at Bagdogra Airport. Mohammad Arif, airport director, members of the Advisory Committee, along with representatives of the Indian Air Force, CISF, AAI, and airline representatives, project Director, Siliguri Police officers, and other stakeholders were also present in the meeting.

Bista said that Bagdogra Airport's overhaul promises to revolutionize regional air travel, featuring 10 aero bridges for direct boarding, multi-level car parking for traveller convenience, and a 50,000 square meter terminal funded by a Rs. 960 crore allocation from the Central government. Upon completion, it will accommodate up to four thousand passengers per hour.

Bista said that the commencement of expansion efforts at Bagdogra Airport will complete by early March. Its existing terminal has a built-up area of 8,000 sq.m and is capable of handling 400 peak-hour passengers.

Bagdogra Airport’s new terminal, to be built 500m south of the existing terminal will have a footprint of 1,00,000 sq.m (50,000 sq.m in Phase 1) and be capable of handling 3800 peak-hour passengers.

The new terminal will be equipped with a multi-level car park (MLCP), 10 aerobridges (6 in Phase 1), and its apron will allow 16 narrow-body aircrafts (A320, B737) to be parked together.

The AAI had invited tenders for the project’s civil construction contract in September 2023 with a Rs. 960.45 crore’s estimate and 913 day (2.5 years) completion deadline. Technical bids were opened in December to reveal four bidders.

Bista said that conveyer belts have been increased to three, and two x-ray machines, tactile flooring for visually impaired passengers, air conditioning in entire terminal area, 700-800 sitting capacity for passengers even if they miss the flights, terminal out-canope and many more facilities have been added on. He informed that the flights can land and take-off till 10 pm as the visibility has been improved.

"We discussed recent developments in passenger facilities, including expanded seating areas, centralized AC, and the ongoing construction of a rain canopy outside the terminal. To aid with landing of the plane during low-visibility situations, a localiser has been installed which will allow planes to land even at visibility of only 900 mtrs, because of this, flights can land up to 10 pm. A glide-path technology is also being installed, which will further reduce the visibility requirement to 600 mtrs, making landing at Bagdogra airport very safe and smooth,” said Bista.

The Bagdogra Airport has experienced significant year-on-year growth, handling 32 lakh passengers so far this year, as compared to 25 lakh previously, with revenue of Rs 100 crore.