'Study for setting up a greenfield airport in Kolkata'

Kolkata, Dec 26: West Bengal government has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to set up a greenfield airport in Kolkata to handle increasing traffic.

Informing this, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here today said that the Consulting Engineering Services (CES) is doing the feasibility study of a second airport near Kolkata and is likely to submit its report soon.

Speaking at the 152nd AGM of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chief Minister said the proposed airport would be set up 35 kilometres away from NSCBI airport.

DP World (formerly known as Dubai Ports) is also keen on setting up a greenfield airport in West Bengal near Kolkata, which is a long standing demand of the ruling Left Front government.

The global port giant, which operates 19 terminals worldwide, could invest up to Rs 12,000 crore in the greenfield airport.

Consulting Engineering Services (CES) is now doing the feasibility study of a second airport near Kolkata and is likely to submit its report soon.

It may be noted Dubai Ports took over UK-based port operator P&O Ports last year in a global deal. However, the deal later created furore in United States as P&O operates a few terminals in the US also.

A high level team of DP World, led by the Sultan of Dubai, is likely to visit Kolkata on January 7 to discuss the details about the greenfield airport and Kulpi Port.

The state government was interested in the proposal as the Left parties have already made it clear that they are not averse to foreign direct investment in greenfield airports.

UNI