Durgapur Aerotropolis – The City of the Future

A metropolitan sub-region, having its land, economy and infrastructure based on an airport, is called Aerotropolis. It is built up of aeronautical logistics and commercial elements that connect transportation with other businesses along with residential developments in and around the close proximity to the airport.

One such Aerotropolis has been developed in the city of Durgapur, West Bengal very recently. The best part that is seen is, that within a very short period of time, the city has seen some great new heights in the field of real estate, economic developments, social developments, transportation, industrial advancements, construction of new business centres, and technological advancements in the field of Information Technology, entertainment centres, and establishment of educational institutions, engineering colleges and universities. 

Other than these, this Aerotropolis city also had seen the development of a grand residential township named Sujalaam skycity. It is in close proximity to the airport. The airport is located at Andal, which is again a small town near Durgapur (in fact adjacent to Durgapur). It has been named after a famous poet’s name – Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (KNI Airport). The nearby area that attracts revenues to this Aerotropolis is Durgapur, Asansol, Burdwan, Raniganj and Chittranjan. All of these are the industrial hubs, which are having good gentry of occupants, workers, who are the prime targets to generate revenues for this project. 

The airport is constructed over an area of 650 acres. The passenger terminal is of 5750 square meter having a capacity to handle about one million passengers per year. There are about six check-in counters and two numbers of conveyer belts for baggage transportation. It also has a grand departure lounge. The other facilities in the airport terminal include- Food and beverage outlets, retail outlets, ATMs, pharmacy and clinic, hotel reservations counter, a spa, convenience store, day care unit for babies, and Wi-Fi services. 

The airport is able to handle narrow body aircraft on its 2800 meters runway that is equipped with a CAT – 1 instrument landing system. Besides, the airport also has a helipad and four parking bays. Mr. Partha Ghosh the lead person behind Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) comments – the airport has officially started its operations since May 2015 and is now fully operational with flights running between Durgapur-New Delhi and Durgapur-Kolkata regions. Mr. Partha Ghosh is also the Managing Director of BAPL. It is one of the companies that means nothing but the future flourish of India.

Author’s bio: Mr. Partha Ghosh is the mastermind behind the grand success of the Bengal Aerotropolis project. It is for the dedication that Mr. Partha Ghosh has shown towards the BAPL project; it has reached new heights and became the first ever Aerotropolis project of India.