Kolkata Airport's Lingering Challenge: A Mosque, Displaced Runways, and Aviation Safety

There's a quiet, yet incredibly serious, predicament unfolding at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, a vital gateway to Eastern India. It's a situation that isn't about air traffic control glitches or baggage handling woes, but something far more fundamental to aviation safety and efficiency: a mosque situated right within the airport’s operational area, directly impacting one of its crucial runways.

Imagine, if you will, the delicate dance of aircraft taking off and landing, especially in challenging weather conditions. Every inch of runway matters. Yet, here in Kolkata, the presence of a mosque has forced authorities to displace the runway’s threshold by a significant 88 meters. What does that mean in practical terms? It’s essentially like shortening a critical road by nearly a hundred yards; pilots have less pavement for takeoff and landing, directly impacting the airport's operational capacity and, more importantly, compromising the crucial safety margins that modern aviation demands.

This isn't a new issue, mind you. For years, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been grappling with this unique challenge. The mosque, identified as a "protected monument" under the state's Waqf Board, sits uncomfortably close to the runway strip. While it doesn't stand on land technically owned by the AAI, its location undeniably falls within the airport's core operational zone, creating a bottleneck that has persisted for far too long. Efforts to find a resolution, including offering alternative land for relocation, have, regrettably, not yielded a breakthrough.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) isn't mincing words about the urgency. They've recently dispatched a rather pointed letter to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, underscoring the severe safety implications of this ongoing situation. The message is clear: the displaced runway threshold isn't just an inconvenience; it's a genuine safety hazard, especially when visibility drops. Less runway length means greater risk, higher workload for pilots, and potentially fewer aircraft movements, all of which chip away at the airport's ability to serve its purpose effectively and safely.

Ultimately, this isn't just about an airport struggling with its infrastructure; it’s about the safety of every passenger flying in and out of Kolkata. Resolving this long-standing issue requires a collaborative spirit, a genuine understanding of aviation's stringent safety requirements, and proactive steps from all involved parties – the state government, local authorities, and the Waqf Board. Only then can Kolkata Airport truly spread its wings, ensuring safe and unhindered operations for years to come.