Bagdogra Airport in Darjeeling District, Set for Rs 12 crore Up-gradation

The Airports Authority of India has decided to build a boarding facility for passengers in transit at the Bagdogra airport by spending around Rs 12 crore.

The AAI officials posted at the airport today said they were waiting for the final approval for the project.

“We have decided to build a ‘transit accommodation centre’ for passengers at the airport. It will be a three-storied building and will have facilities like restaurants and rooms where people in transit can stay,” said Rakesh Sahay, the airport director of Bagdogra.

According to Sahay, the centre will have rooms which can accommodate around 20 people. “There will be restaurants, cafeterias, conference hall and space for airline companies. Anybody arriving at Bagdogra can use the facility and stay overnight in the rooms,” Sahay said.

“The project has been accepted by our superiors and has been sent to our headquarters for final approval. Once we receive the approval, we will go ahead with the project,” he added.

The centre, AAI sources said, will come up next to the office of the airport director, located a few metres away from the terminal building.

The decision to build the centre has been hailed by the residents, particularly the stakeholders of tourism industry.

“It would be an ideal facility for tourists, especially during strikes and natural calamities. There were several instances where we needed to reschedule itineraries of tourists. In such cases, it became troublesome for us to ferry tourists to the airport and vice versa,” said Samrat Sanyal, the executive president of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association.

Saugata Roy, a manager working in a private finance company, said the conference hall could be of immense help for corporates.

“Senior officials of different companies often pay brief visits to Siliguri. Meetings are held here and at many times, it has been found that a company official has to travel over 20km to Siliguri to hold a meeting before he takes a return flight from Bagdogra,” Roy said.

“Once the centre becomes operational, such meetings can be held at the conference hall planned at the airport. The dining and accommodation facilities would be added advantages.”