The state government is planning to develop small airports in Kanchrapara and Barrackpore for short domestic routes through private participation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the AGM of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the state would adopt the Andal model to develop small airports. Pragati Infrastructure and Hudco are developing a greenfield airport in Andal.
He added that the government had approached the defence ministry for permission to use some airstrips for civil aviation and the ministry had given the nod to Barrackpore and Kanchrapara. "They will give these to us on lease. We are not going to the Airports Authority of India to develop these, which will be developed and managed by private parties," the CM added.
Source:The Times Of India,04-10-07
