Speculation has been building up for about a year. The 60 % share of the airport built under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model in Andal, Durgapur, and the adjacent aerotropolis is going to the Jindal Group. The file related to this is now awaiting final approval at Nabanna, according to a source. State administration sources said the Jindal Group is waiting for final permission from the central government's defence department regarding land transfer.
The airport in Andal and Bengal Aerotropolis Private Limited (BAPL), built around it, were established during the Left regime. The airport was built on 650 acres out of a total of 1,820 acres of land. Over time, flight services were launched from the airport, but the industrial establishment there did not meet expectations as hoped, according to a section of the administration. As a result, BAPL faced losses. It was then decided that BAPL would change hands.
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Currently, the state government holds a 26 % share there. Singapore's Changi Airport holds about a 30 % share. There is speculation that they want to retain 10 % and give up the rest. It has been noted that the Jindal Group could take the remaining 60 %, with the state government keeping 30 % and Changi Airport authorities retaining 10 %. However, this transfer has not been finalised yet.
Notably, the prominent business group of Bengal has already conducted a survey around Andal Airport to take responsibility for BAPL. The survey revealed that the current infrastructure at the airport is sufficient for the next five years.
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The terminal building has sufficient passenger capacity. The runway and parking bay capacity also do not need to be expanded. Only the airport's drainage system has some issues.
According to administration sources, 12 lakh passengers can travel through Andal's terminal annually. Currently, about six lakh passengers are travelling there. Eight flights operate daily. Twenty flights can operate from there per day. Sources said flights now operate from Andal to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar and Bagdogra. The Jindal Group did not want to comment on this transfer.
