Durgapur – A City that Has India’s First Private Greenfield Airport

The city of Durgapur after getting transformed into an Aerotropolis has undergone many socio-economic changes. Durgapur airport that is also called Andal airport - because of its nearby proximity to Andal - has started running flights from Durgapur to different cities of India. Durgapur Aerotropolis has been developed by a company named Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL). Currently BAPL has arrangements to run flights in the Durgapur-New Delhi and Durgapur-Kolkata regions only. But it is soon expected to let reach its services to other cities of India as well. The reason behind operating air services is the growing number of industries around this zone, which uses extensive man power for production. These are people who have settled down there but are expected to use the full potential of this aero-city.

The Aerotropolis at Durgapur is located right into the heart of the Durgapur town, which has its connectivity to other cities with road, rail and airways. The newly constructed residential township is known by its name Sujalaam Skycity. As the name itself signifies, the Skycity is a residential establishment with high towers. It is spread over an area of 8.8 sq. kilometres. The housing accommodates all sections of people in the society. The housing includes 3, 5, and 8 kathas of lands and is formed as row houses. 

BAPL states that the total project has been developed at a cost of about Rs.10,000 crores, where the airport itself has taken about Rs.650 crores in its development. The airport occupies an area of about 600 acres and has two air strips as runways. It has got a grand lobby and two baggage counters. It has a capacity to handle one million passengers per year. Considering all of these amenities of a modern airport, the authority of Civil Aviation has granted its approval to Durgapur airport as India’s first private Greenfield airport. 

The skycity has a great number of amenities. It has a big number of housing plots, entertainment centres, shopping malls, fashion outlets, food and beverage outlets. Other than these, the skycity also accommodates schools, colleges, education institutions, hospitals, deemed universities etc. – all within the close proximity to the main city. 

Sujalaam skycity as developed by Mr. Partha Ghosh is supported by institutional infrastructure, which strengthens the link between the skycity and the Andal airport. It is Partha Ghosh whose inspirations made Sujalaam skycity. It has the largest integrated industrial establishment zone, which can attract domestic and foreign investments in times to come.

Author’s bio: BAPL project is completely handled by Mr. Partha Ghosh who has helped the Andal airport come alive in its scheduled time. Mr. Partha Ghosh also introduced the concept of skycity, by putting up the Sujalaam skycity as a prime part of this Aerotropolis project.