Darjeeling, 18th October: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista announced via a press release that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the first phase of the Bagdogra Airport New Terminal Project on October 20, 2024.
Bagdogra Airport, the sole commercial airport serving North Bengal, caters to a vast population across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and other regions. It also serves travelers from Sikkim, Assam, Bihar, and neighboring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, making it the second busiest airport in West Bengal.
Over the last decade, passenger traffic at Bagdogra surged from 3,000 to 10,000 passengers daily, while the number of flights increased from 20 to nearly 60. However, the airport’s infrastructure had remained stagnant, prompting the need for expansion.
Bista emphasized that upgrading Bagdogra to an international airport has been a key priority since his election, with support from Prime Minister Modi, Civil Aviation Minister K.R. Naidu, and former Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The new terminal in the first phase will span 70,390 square meters, with future plans for an additional 50,000 square meters. It will have the capacity to handle 3,000 peak-hour passengers and over 10 million passengers annually. The terminal will include 10 parking bays for A321 aircraft, two link taxiways, and multi-level parking. In line with sustainability goals, it will also be a ‘Green Building,’ maximizing the use of renewable energy and natural light.
Once completed, Bagdogra will be the region’s first international airport, positioning it as a major hub for travel, tourism, and trade, and transforming Siliguri, Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars into a world-class destination for investment in various sectors.