Parliament Question: Aviation infrastructure expansion in North Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1772 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th March 2026 AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION IN NORTH BENGAL 1772. SHRI HARSH VARDHAN SHRINGLA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the details of major airport and terminal infrastructure commissioned during the last two years, including their designed passenger handling capacity and expected regional economic impact in the North Eastern Region especially in North Bengal; (b) whether any integrated multi-modal connectivity planning has been undertaken to link newly developed airports with highways, railways and logistics hubs; (c) details of the new passenger terminal at Bagdogra airport, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether Government has undertaken any assessment of employment generation and local ecosystem development around newly operational airports and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a): At Hollongi Airport, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, a new Terminal Building with a capacity to serve 800 passengers during peak hours and 10 lakh passengers annually has been commissioned in 2025. Further, a new Integrated Terminal Building at Guwahati Airport with a capacity to serve 13 million passengers annually has been inaugurated in 2025. (b) Under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the Government is implementing an integrated strategy to enhance multimodal connectivity at major airports. This initiative promotes coordinated planning among various Ministries and Departments to ensure smooth last-mile access via road, rail, metro, and other transport modes. (c) The Airports Authority of India has undertaken the development of New Civil Enclave at Bagdgora Airport at an estimated cost of Rs.1549 crore. The development works include construction of a New Terminal Building with an annual capacity to handle 10 million passengers, construction of an Apron capable of accommodating 10 parking bays suitable for A-321 type aircraft, link taxiways Multi-Level Car Parking and allied works. (d) As per an International Civil Aviation Organization study titled 'Economic Benefits of Civil Aviation: Ripples of Prosperity', the output multiplier of aviation is 3.25 and the employment multiplier is 6.10. This indicates that every 100 rupees spent on air transport may generate about 325 rupees in the economy, and every 100 direct jobs in air transport may lead to around 610 jobs in the overall economy. ******