Kolkata, Sept. 30 -- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport is set for a major airside expansion, with a Rs 337-crore project to add aircraft parking and operational space on the southern side of the terminal.
Officials said the apron project, scheduled for completion in three years, will increase aircraft parking bays from 73 to 132, providing more space for parking, servicing and ground-handling operations.
The expansion comes as passenger traffic has recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The airport handled around 1.1 crore passengers in the first half of 2025 and about 2.2 crore during the full year.
Its annual passenger-handling capacity has recently been raised from 2.6 crore to 2.8 crore. A larger redevelopment plan aims to take this to around 4.5 crore by 2032-33.
The plan includes replacing the old domestic terminal with a U-shaped international terminal featuring 21 aerobridges. Around 60,000 sq ft will also be added to the international section to accommodate immigration, customs and passenger facilities.
The airport's runway-handling capacity has risen from 35 to 45 flights an hour following the addition of taxiways and rapid-exit corridors. The domestic departure area has also been expanded by 993 sqm, with another 300 sqm planned for the international departure section.
The expansion is aimed at strengthening the airport's airside capacity as passenger numbers continue to rise.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.