Bengal's first private airport to begin operations by December.

After a long wait, the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd. (BAPL)-promoted airport at Andal, near Durgapur, is finally on course to start domestic flight operations in the next six months.

Though declared ready for commercial operations in April 2013, delay on the part of State electricity distribution utility in removing high tension transmission lines running across the airstrip delayed flight operations.

Named after Kazi Nazrul Islam – a famous Bengali poet – the only private airport in the region will be aided with an airport city (Aerotropolis), spreading over 2,000 acres, in the lines of Changi Airport of Singapore. Changi is the single largest stake holder (26 per cent in BAPL).

According to Partha Ghosh, MD, the company has already invested nearly Rs. 650 crore in building the airport and approximately Rs. 350 crore on city side development. Ghosh is one of the three lead-promoters of BAPL, holding approximately 18 per cent each.


HBL