Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport

Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (IATA: RDP, ICAO: VEDG) is a domestic airport located at Andal, Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal, India. It is named after Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and serves the twin city of Durgapur and Asansol. The airport is roughly 15 km from Durgapur's City Centre Bus Terminus and 25 km from Asansol's City Bus Terminus and is a project by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL).

Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport
Front facade of KNI Airport, Andal, Durgapur at night
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerBengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL)/Changi Airport Group
OperatorBengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL)/Changi Airport Group
ServesDurgapur and Asansol
LocationAndal, Durgapur, West Bengal
Elevation AMSL302 ft / 92 m
Coordinates23°37′17″N 87°14′36″E
Website
Map
RDP
Location in West Bengal
RDP
RDP (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
16/34 2,900 9,514 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2019 – January 2020)
Passengers1,71,155 (272.8%)
Aircraft movements1,523 (239.2%)

The airport's hinterland comprises the towns of Burdwan, Bankura, Bishnupur, Purulia, Sainthia, Suri, Bolpur, Rampurhat in West Bengal and Dhanbad and Bokaro in Jharkhand. It is part of the country's first private sector Aerotropolis, being developed by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL). The airport was officially inaugurated on 19 September 2013 by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.[12] Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport as the passenger movements for the year 2018–2019 is the 3rd busiest airport of West Bengal and the 70th busiest airport of India.[13]

History

The project was conceived in 2006–07 during the Left Front government. The State Government also has a 1.23 per cent stake through West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Singapore's Changi Airports International (CAI) has a 36 per cent stake in BAPL. Other Indian promoters include IL&FS, Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development, Pragati 47, Lend Lease Company India and Citystar Infrastructure. The airport has been built over 650 acres at a cost of Rs 6 billion.[14]

The airport received final operational clearance from the aviation regulator DGCA on 24 April 2015.[15] On 10 May 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first passenger to use the new airport when he flew out to Delhi, aboard an Indian Air Force Boeing 737 VIP aircraft, even before commercial airlines started their regular service from the airport.[16] Scheduled commercial operation commenced on 18 May 2015.[17] Another Airlines Zoom Air also begun flights on the Delhi – Durgapur – Kolkata route but after three months it stopped its flight due to lack of passengers. Finally the airport gained popularity in 2018 with connections to Delhi and Hyderabad by Air India and to the much required destinations of Mumbai and Chennai in October 2019 by Spicejet

Facilities

The 5,750 square metre passenger terminal building has a capacity of 1 million passengers per annum and can be expanded in the future to a capacity to 2.5 million per annum. It has six check-in counters with Common Use Terminal equipment (CUTE) in the departure lounge and two baggage conveyor belts at the arrival hall.[18]

The airport's 2,800-metre runway is equipped with a CAT I instrument landing system (ILS) and can handle narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The airport apron has four parking bays and a Helipad. The airport is equipped with category VI firefighting and rescue capability.[18]

Airlines and destinations

Presently the airport is served by Air India & Spicejet.

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Air IndiaDelhi, Hyderabad [19][20]
SpiceJetChennai, Delhi,[21] Mumbai [22][23]

Statistics
YearPassengersPassengers % changeAircraft MovementAircraft Movement % change
2019–2020 1,71,155[7] 272.8%[7] 1,523[24] 239.2%[24]
2018–2019 [7]45,907 846.47% 385 63.1%
2017–2018 5,377 -6.9% [13] – [25]
2016–2017 5,950 [26] -30.1% 236 [27] -53.4%
2015–2016 8,515 [26] – 506 [27] –

Busiest routes
Busiest routes to and from Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (Till November 2019)[7]
RankAirportTotal
passengers		Change
2018/ 19
1Delhi34,325
2Mumbai29,847N/A
3Hyderabad28,216N/A
4Chennai10,865N/A
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gollark: (we do not care beyond this)
gollark: Also third through ninth.

References
  1. "Bengal's Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport receives final regulatory approval – The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 21 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  3. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 21 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  4. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-IV" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 21 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  5. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Jan2k20Annex3.pdf
  6. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Jan2k20Annex2.pdf
  7. http://www.knowindia.net/aviation3.html
  8. "AAI TRAFFIC NEWS" (PDF).
  9. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Jan2k19Annex2.pdf
  10. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Feb2k19Annex2_1.pdf
  11. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2K19Annex2.pdf
  12. "Profile on Kazi Nazrul Islam International Airport". CAPA. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  13. "Traffic News for the month of March 2019: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  14. "Rechristened Bengal aerotropolis unveiled". Business Standard. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  15. "Bengal Aerotropolis Projects gets DGCA nod for airport". Business Standard. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  16. "Narendra Modi first passenger to use Andal airport". The Economic Times. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  17. Mishra, Mihir (18 May 2015). "Air India operates inaugural flight between Durgapur & Kolkata". Economic Times. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  18. "Aerotropolis to bank on service, not size". The Times of India. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  19. "Air India resumes flights to Durgapur".
  20. "Durgapur Airport gets second service".
  21. "Next year, Spicejet to start Durgapur-Delhi services". The Statesman. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  22. "First flight on Durgapur-Mumbai route, good response". Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  23. "SpiceJet to launch Durgapur-Chennai flights". Kolkata 24x7. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  24. https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Nov2k19Annex2.pdf
  25. "Traffic News for the month of March 2019: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 1 May 2019. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  26. "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  27. "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
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