- Renewal of Hope
KAMAL KUMAR BISWAS.TOD.BALURGHAT
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, the Union minister of state and member of Parliament from Balurghat parliamentary constituency , has renewed his appeal to the Civil Aviation Ministry to make the long-pending Balurghat Airport operational and begin regular commercial flights, arguing that air connectivity is crucial for the development of one of West Bengal’s most economically challenged regions.
In a letter dated Feb. 12 and addressed to the civil aviation minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Dr.Sukanta Majumdar referred to his earlier correspondence seeking immediate steps to launch services from the airport. He also cited previous communications from the ministry dating back to March 2024.
Balurghat, his parliamentary constituency, includes the districts of Dakshin Dinajpur and Uttar Dinajpur. In the letter, Dr. Majumdar described the area as economically underdeveloped, with residents facing constraints in employment, trade and commerce.
Helicopter services linking Kolkata, Malda and Balurghat had operated for a brief period in the past. A proposal for fixed-wing flights on the Kolkata–Malda–Balurghat–Cooch Behar route was discussed as well, but never materialized, he wrote.During the 17th Lok Sabha, Dr. Majumdar said, he raised the matter of operationalizing the airport at Mahinagar under the government’s regional connectivity initiative, UDAN. At the time, he was informed that infrastructure at the airport was ready, though services could not be started.
He urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to take up, if necessary, issues such as land acquisition with the state government to clear the way for flights.“I earnestly request your kind patronage for making Balurghat Airport at Mahinagar operational and for initiating regular flight services,” he wrote, proposing routes that could link Cooch Behar and Kolkata, or Guwahati, Cooch Behar and Kolkata via Balurghat.
For residents and businesses in the district, the start of air services has long been seen as a potential catalyst for investment, faster travel and improved access to larger markets. Whether the renewed push will translate into aircraft on the runway remains to be seen.
In a letter dated Feb. 12 and addressed to the civil aviation minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Dr.Sukanta Majumdar referred to his earlier correspondence seeking immediate steps to launch services from the airport. He also cited previous communications from the ministry dating back to March 2024.
Balurghat, his parliamentary constituency, includes the districts of Dakshin Dinajpur and Uttar Dinajpur. In the letter, Dr. Majumdar described the area as economically underdeveloped, with residents facing constraints in employment, trade and commerce.
Helicopter services linking Kolkata, Malda and Balurghat had operated for a brief period in the past. A proposal for fixed-wing flights on the Kolkata–Malda–Balurghat–Cooch Behar route was discussed as well, but never materialized, he wrote.During the 17th Lok Sabha, Dr. Majumdar said, he raised the matter of operationalizing the airport at Mahinagar under the government’s regional connectivity initiative, UDAN. At the time, he was informed that infrastructure at the airport was ready, though services could not be started.
He urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to take up, if necessary, issues such as land acquisition with the state government to clear the way for flights.“I earnestly request your kind patronage for making Balurghat Airport at Mahinagar operational and for initiating regular flight services,” he wrote, proposing routes that could link Cooch Behar and Kolkata, or Guwahati, Cooch Behar and Kolkata via Balurghat.
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