The process of having airports in Malda and Balurghat, two towns of north Bengal, has started with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) agreeing to hand over airport land and runway to the state government.
Transport department officials said AAI has agreed to hand over 132.66 acres and 114 acres of airport land including runway in Balurghat and Malda airport respectively for use by the state government initially for a period of 30 years at a token cost of Re 1.
A cabinet decision in this regard has already been taken while an MoU for this purpose was signed today with AAI at 'Uttar Kanya', the state secretariat in the north Bengal.
PWD will take up the development work of existing runway at Balurghat airport immediately, officials said, adding development of Malda airport will also be taken up as soon as possible.
Efforts will be made to establish fixed wing aircraft service at Malda and Balurghat airport with AAI help.
The issue of development of different airports in the state was raised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a meeting with the civil aviation minister last year.
