The central government has decided to upgrade the Hasimara Air Force Station in Alipurduar district to a civil enclave from where passenger flights can be operated, a nod to the longs-standing demand for a second airport for north Bengal.
The Centre has sought 37.74 acres of land from the Bengal government to extend the existing runway of the station managed by the Indian Air Force, and build a terminal building, administrative block, apron and a vehicle parking lot for the planned civilian airport. The air force station is located near the India-Bhutan border.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union minister for civil aviation, on Thursday wrote to John Barla, the BJP MP of Alipurduar and Union minister of state for minority affairs, about the plan.
