Director may visit Malda and Balurghat airstrips

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 25: The executive director of the Airports Authority of India (AII), eastern region, Mr SP Singh Boxi may visit the Malda and Balurghat airstrips, tentatively on 30 November, the Malda airport officials have said. The objective behind his visit is to review the progress of the ongoing construction of the boundary wall in the two airstrips, for the protection of land and also to observe the existing position of the airports, which are likely to be renovated soon. Sources said that the director of Airports Authority of India may visit Raiganj too, in accordance with the request of the Union information and broadcasting minister, Mr Priyaranjan Das Munshi. Mr Das Munshi had suggested to the Airports Authority of India authorities to set up an airport in North Dinajpur district and asked them to visit the spot for the selection of the required land. To revive air services, political leaders are planning to connect the north Bengal districts by air services from Cooch Behar to Malda, connecting three other districts of North and South Dinajpur. It may be noted that the Malda district magistrate had written missives to the director of Airports Authority of India , eastern region, for the development of the Malda airport and on the basis of correspondence, the Airports Authority of India had conducted joint survey to study the chances of revival. On 23 November, the local officials met the district magistrate and handed over a computed disc in which the Airports Authority of India has recorded pictures of more than 18 identified constructions, which are creating obstruction to the flying zone of the present position of the Malda air strip. The district magistrate, Mr CR Das has studied the video footage of the obstructions and is reportedly trying hard to take the necessary action to revive the airport project in Malda, in consultation with his higher authorities in the state secretariat at the Writers’ Buildings. The Malda airport authorities are constructing a boundary wall leaving the western side of the airstrip at present. The ministry of civil aviation has told the state government that the Airports Authority of India needs more land on the western side for its revival project, due to obstruction on the eastern side by high rise buildings which have created problems for the present runway for air craft. The district administration has already surveyed the area on the western side of the airport and estimated that it would be able to acquire nearly 40 to 50 acres of required land to extend the runway. At present, the district administration has been facing problems on account of the high rise constructions on either the side of the Malda airport, including multi storied buildings on the eastern side and BSNL tower and a 50 metres high electrical high tension line tower on the western side.