The long-stalled proposal for a civil enclave at Air Force Station Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district, West Bengal, has been revived following the recent change of government in the state. The project, which has been in limbo for over a decade, is seen as a critical connectivity upgrade for the industrial belt around Kharagpur, located just 11 km away.

A Decade of Delays

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have been pursuing the civil enclave proposal with successive West Bengal governments for more than ten years, with little tangible progress. The primary stumbling block has been land acquisition and the absence of essential infrastructure, particularly road connectivity to the nearest highway.

At one point, a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer was specifically appointed to liaise with the state government and advance the project. The IAF itself has been supportive of the arrangement, as shared civilian-military infrastructure enables cost-sharing for both parties.

Land Requirement and Government Position

The AAI has projected a requirement of 38.25 acres of land from the West Bengal government to build the new civil enclave. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu had previously clarified in Parliament that under the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the responsibility for providing land for airport projects rests with the respective state government.

Naidu had stated that the AAI remains in regular contact with the state government on the matter, and that construction work can commence once the required land is made available and all necessary clearances are obtained. BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya had raised the issue in Parliament approximately a year ago, bringing renewed attention to the long-pending proposal.

Strategic and Economic Significance

Kharagpur is not only a major industrial hub but also sits close to West Bengal's border with Odisha, with several commercially active towns in the neighbouring state within easy reach. Officials believe a civil enclave operating under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme would attract considerable passenger traffic from both states.

Notably, a similar civil enclave has also been proposed at Air Force Station Hasimara in north Bengal, near the Bhutan border. Officials argue that a functional airport there could catalyse tourism to Bhutan as well as to the surrounding tea garden and forest regions.

What Happens Next

With the change of government in West Bengal, officials are cautiously optimistic that land acquisition and infrastructure clearances — the two primary bottlenecks — may now move faster. The project's fate will hinge on how swiftly the new state administration acts on the 38.25-acre land transfer and coordinates with the Centre on enabling infrastructure.