Kolkata, October 5 (Udaipur Kiran) : Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced on October 5 that his ministry will soon initiate discussions with various airlines to establish direct flights connecting Kolkata to several cities in Europe. This announcement came during his visit to Kolkata for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of four new airports in West Bengal.
During the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari urged Naidu to expedite the process of launching direct flights to European destinations, including London. Naidu assured the Chief Minister that the ministry would engage with airlines on this matter shortly.
The minister highlighted the government’s aim to establish a total of eight new airports in West Bengal, with MoUs signed for four of them on Monday. He emphasized that the central government would fully support the state in this initiative, ensuring a collaborative approach to the development of the new airports.
Key focus areas will include runway renovations and terminal building upgrades, while the central government will handle the technical aspects related to the airports. The newly signed MoUs pertain to regional airports in Purulia’s Chharra, South Dinajpur’s Balurghat, Alipurduar’s Hasimara Civil Enclave, and West Medinipur’s Kalyan Kunda, which also serve as significant bases for the Indian Air Force.
Chief Minister Adhikari noted that the development of these four new airports would greatly enhance the air connectivity infrastructure in West Bengal. Under the central government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme, the state government will provide essential land, access roads, and utility services, while the central government will oversee the main infrastructure development of the airports.
Additionally, during the MoU signing event, Chief Minister Adhikari requested the establishment of a pilot training institute in West Bengal from Minister Naidu.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.