Airport takeoff likely in mid-2013

ANDAL (DURGAPUR): The airport was initially scheduled to take off in 2011 but a bitter wrangle with Coal India Ltd kept it grounded for months and delayed the project by a year. Even as construction of the runway, terminal building, air traffic control tower and other facilities is under way full swing with promoters Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) and strategic investor Changi Airports International target 2012-end as the new deadline, there are several niggling issues that are yet to be sorted out before operations commence at the airport.

To begin with, land remains an unresolved issue at the project site. Though the promoters forfeited claim over 144 acre in the project that was originally pegged at 2,300 acre, BAPL currently has been handed 1,818 acre. While BAPL expects to get an additional 164 acre of defence land, there is a question mark over 192 acre in which acquisition process did not get completed before the change in government.

Top BAPL offiicials said the 192 acre in question is crucial to the project for not just a good access to the township from National Highway 2 but also building the six-lane arterial road that cuts through the proposed township, connecting NH 2 with the airport.

"We are negotiating with the government for the land but as things stand, resolving the matter appears bleak. Though people are not opposed to the project, the government's strong stand against acquisition has had its implications. The arterial road is crucial to the airport. But with no progress in site, we are building an alternative four lane road that is 4.1 km long to enable passengers, airport and airline staff to commute between the city and the airport. Thankfully, we have possession of the entire 650 acre required for the airport," he said.

BAPL is also required to make some crucial diversions and relocations for the completion of the runway and commencement of operations. A metalled road that cuts right through the runway has to be diverted around the airport periphery. A high-tension transmission line of West Bengal State Transmission Co Ltd that carries power between the Purulia Pump Storage Project and DPL has to be diverted as well so that the wires do not come in the way of flight path.

"There are a couple of other minor relocations that need to be done. Around 15 homesteads have to be relocated and nine telecom towers have to be shifted," the official said.

These issues apart, the company needs to quickly resolve a dispute brewing in the acquired area. On January 31 this year, around 40 residents of Dhakshinkhanda mouza had fenced off 25 bighas of land (plot no. 7007). The move was in anger over not been handed the payment for the land. They claimed that despite repeated intimation to BAPL officials, there has been no progress on the issue.

Uday Pal-a trader who owned 5 bigha in the fenced portion-said he was fed up with the delay and has decided not to hand over the land. Dilip Mazumdar, Mintu Mazumdar and Rabindranath Saha have also decided likewise. "We have all necessary documents including mutation. But none of us have received compensation cheques," said Mintu Mazumdar said.

Seikh Abdul Rashid alleged that he and others had travelled to Burdwan to met the additional district magistrate but the problem has not been solved. "We are not fighting under any political umbrella," iterated Sirajul Islam.

BAPL officials, however, said 85% of compensation had been paid off. "Processing of papers in the remaining 15% cases is underway. In all such projects, there will be some cases where payouts take longer due to legal, inheritance and other issues," he argued, adding that the WBIDC had paid Rs 2.47 lakh per bigha as compensation for this plot. On the BAPL plan, this plot is part of an industrial park.

There is another hurdle that the project has encountered. Around 164 owners of a 7 acre plot (no. 293,294) in Amlouka mouza have not accepted cheques yet. The boundary wall of the runway and the security road is scheduled to be constructed on this plot.

Given the obstacles and the pace of progress, experts said the airport was unlikely to be completed this year. "At the earliest, the construction will get over only around March-April. Thereafter, the airport has to be checked and certified by Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Only then can operations commence. Pre-Puja takeoff is a more realistic estimate," one of them said.

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