In an investment-starved Bengal, when the Andal Airport project was conceived by the Left Government in 2006-2007, hardly had anyone imagined in his or her sweetest of the sweet dreams that Durgapur could afford to have an Airport (and that too not a civil enclave or an aerodrome but a fully operational ultra-modern Airport) in the next 10 years from then. But hopes started building up when in mid-2008, the land acquisition process for the Rs 10000 crore project began.
Land was acquired in two slots--- one of 1820 acres and remaining in next slot. Though initially minor resistances were faced from some villagers(mostly instigated by political parties and land-brokers), the authorities managed to buy land at approximately Rs.7.5 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per acre and compensation upto 6 cottahs of land (along with indirect job offers, free cycles and several other advantages under BAPL's Corporate Social Responsibility scheme, Sevanjali). So far I am aware of, there was not much foul play in the land-acquisition process as we had seen in Singur.
Within November 2010, a major portion of the land was acquired and the project was set to take wings. But then came in another hindrance ---- the high-tension power transmission lines and towers which ran across the Airport and runway. BAPL required another 70 acres of non-contiguous land at Laudoha and Andal Gram to shift the towers. The contract for building the airport infrastructure was awarded to Simplex Infrastructures.
Meanwhile the State's political regime changed wrists with the TMC Government, led by Mamata Banerjee, coming to power. Under orders from State Government, local administration intervened and the deadlock was resolved by shifting the 96 transmission towers. BAPL roped in Larsen And Toubro Limited (L&T) for the task and later L&T was handed over the charge of infrastructure development of the entire Aerocity, including the Industrial Skypark, residential projects, NH2 approach road.
In 2014, another round of BJP-backed protests was encountered from the villagers who were now greedy to make a larger pile as compensation for the land that was already sold. But the administration handled the situation very skilfully with "velvet gloves on iron hands".
Moreover, Mamata Banerjee's personal charisma and the promise of 2 small planes' flights between Kolkata-Ranchi and Kolkata-Patna via Andal airport helped waive off the crisis.
Amidst a lot of buzz, the 2800m long RUNWAY OF OUR DREAMS was rolled out. On 24 th April, after receiving recommendation from State Government, DGCA ultimately gave a green signal to the Andal Airport (renamed to be KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM AIRPORT, Durgapur) by granting Operational Clearance to BAPL.
In this article, I have not laid much stress on the stakeholders of BAPL and such other issues which are not of much concern to the commoners unless corporate issues are to be addressed.
SUJALAAM THE SKYCITY project, of which the Airport is a part is spread over 2300 acres of land (650 acres for the Airport itself) from 11 mouzas of Andal Block, and hence the name Andal Airport. However I personally hesitate to use this misnomer, owing to the sentiments of the residents of the eight villages------- Amlauka,Arati,Patsaora, Banguri,Tamla, Khandra, Dakshin Khanda and Mahira------ most of whom wilfully and happily sold their lands at nominal rates for the success of the project. So, they deserve the bountiful thanks from the admirers and profiteers of the project.
Being a native of the village of Ichapur (just about 2 kilometers away from the Airport) and my family having a token investment in the SkyCity, I have noted the developments of the project in close quarters. Land was acquired in two slots--- one of 1820 acres and remaining in next slot. Though initially minor resistances were faced from some villagers(mostly instigated by political parties and land-brokers), the authorities managed to buy land at approximately Rs.7.5 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per acre and compensation upto 6 cottahs of land (along with indirect job offers, free cycles and several other advantages under BAPL's Corporate Social Responsibility scheme, Sevanjali). So far I am aware of, there was not much foul play in the land-acquisition process as we had seen in Singur.
Within November 2010, a major portion of the land was acquired and the project was set to take wings. But then came in another hindrance ---- the high-tension power transmission lines and towers which ran across the Airport and runway. BAPL required another 70 acres of non-contiguous land at Laudoha and Andal Gram to shift the towers. The contract for building the airport infrastructure was awarded to Simplex Infrastructures.
Meanwhile the State's political regime changed wrists with the TMC Government, led by Mamata Banerjee, coming to power. Under orders from State Government, local administration intervened and the deadlock was resolved by shifting the 96 transmission towers. BAPL roped in Larsen And Toubro Limited (L&T) for the task and later L&T was handed over the charge of infrastructure development of the entire Aerocity, including the Industrial Skypark, residential projects, NH2 approach road.
In 2014, another round of BJP-backed protests was encountered from the villagers who were now greedy to make a larger pile as compensation for the land that was already sold. But the administration handled the situation very skilfully with "velvet gloves on iron hands".
Moreover, Mamata Banerjee's personal charisma and the promise of 2 small planes' flights between Kolkata-Ranchi and Kolkata-Patna via Andal airport helped waive off the crisis.
Amidst a lot of buzz, the 2800m long RUNWAY OF OUR DREAMS was rolled out. On 24 th April, after receiving recommendation from State Government, DGCA ultimately gave a green signal to the Andal Airport (renamed to be KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM AIRPORT, Durgapur) by granting Operational Clearance to BAPL.
In this article, I have not laid much stress on the stakeholders of BAPL and such other issues which are not of much concern to the commoners unless corporate issues are to be addressed.
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