For a century old coal mining area in the resource rich Ranigunj coalfields, Andal’s only connection to aviation was an abandoned World War-II airstrip.

But that was nearly a decade ago when Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) was yet to propose setting up the State’s first privately-owned airport as part of an 1,800-acre airport-city (aerotropolis) project, here to tap the huge potential of the adjoining Durgapur-Asansol industrial belt.

Today, its brand new air-traffic control tower rivals the head-gear of the underground Moira colliery, once the tallest structure in town. The Rs 600-crore domestic airport, with peak hour capacity of nearly 450 passengers, is waiting to commence operations in the next four-to five months. “We are likely to make the airport operational by end of 2012,” Subrata Paul, CEO, BAPL, told Business Line .

Sources suggest that though the construction is nearing completion, inauguration would have to wait till a high-voltage power transmission line, that is currently criss-crossing the runway, is duly shifted.

Changi airport

BAPL is a joint venture of Singapore-based Changi Airports International (26 per cent) and four Indian companies – City Star Infrastructure, Lend Lease, PSIDL and Pragati 47. The West Bengal Government has an approximately 1.5 per cent stake in the project. Developed under direct technical assistance of Changi, the airport, fitted with modern night landing facilities, is expected to start operating with daily flights to Kolkata by Jet Airways and Air India flights to Delhi in small-bodied aircraft. According to Paul, both the airlines have evinced initial interest in starting operations from Durgapur. Sources suggest that talks are also on with Indigo.

Incentive schemes

Efforts are on to attract airlines by offering cheaper landing charges, airport usage fees, rentals, night parking facilities and other such freebies. The attempt is to woo an airline to use the airport as a terminal point instead of Kolkata. Sources suggest BAPL has also approached the State Government for sales tax concessions on refuelling, to add to the competitive edge.

Rich catchment

Though Kolkata is merely 200 km away and is connected by good rail and road links, Paul feels there is a definite passenger interest in this route. The company is particularly banking on the huge mining operations, nearly 2,00,000 public sector employees working in three major steel plants, and thriving commerce in the 100-km stretch from Dhanbad to Durgapur.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

> pratim.bose@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW