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The presence of the mosque, which predates the construction of the modern aviation facility, poses structural and logistical challenges for Kolkata’s air traffic management
While mosque committee representatives have expressed deep cooperation, noting they do not wish to hinder the airport’s growth or international safety standards, they have requested that authorities formalise the relocation consensus by consulting major national Muslim umbrella organisations, including the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. File image/X
Long-stalled efforts to relocate the historic mosque situated deep inside the high-security operational area of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata have gained significant momentum, sources say. Following a recent change in the West Bengal state government, administrative and aviation authorities have launched a coordinated push to resolve the decades-old deadlock.
A joint inspection of the 136-year-old Gouripur Jame Masjid—also locally known as the Bankra Mosque—was conducted by officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the North 24 Parganas district administration, as per reports. This on-site assessment was immediately followed by a high-level meeting at the District Magistrate’s office, where state officials and airport representatives formally presented the urgent operational necessity for relocation to the mosque committee members.
Why Does the Mosque’s Presence Constrain Flight Operations?
The presence of the place of worship, which predates the construction of the modern aviation facility, poses structural and logistical challenges for Kolkata’s air traffic management. The modest structure stands approximately 150 metres inside the airport’s boundary wall and just 165 metres north of the secondary runway. This violates standard global aviation safety protocols, which strictly dictate that no permanent civilian building should exist within 240 metres of an active runway.
Because the mosque sits directly within the flight approach path, aviation authorities were previously forced to shift the secondary runway’s touchdown point southward by 88 metres. While the remaining 2,832 metres of the runway are perfectly adequate for standard narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, the shortened distance prevents the airport from safely operating wide-body international aircraft like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A330 on this strip.
Furthermore, the secondary runway lacks the advanced Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) used on the primary runway to facilitate safe flights during heavily foggy winter mornings, as the equipment cannot be safely installed due to the mosque’s proximity.
How the Political Transition Aligned Central and State Focus
For over three decades, the civil aviation ministry’s proposals to relocate the structure to a larger, dedicated plot outside the perimeter wall were consistently blocked by successive state administrations led by Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and Mamata Banerjee, citing local religious sensitivities. However, with the political landscape shifting and a new BJP-led government taking charge in West Bengal, the state administration has aligned directly with the Centre’s infrastructure modernisation goals.
Current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly red-flagged the security and operational risks associated with the airside structure. With political friction removed, airport officials are highly optimistic about a breakthrough, though the actual relocation process has been mutually deferred until after the upcoming Eid-uz-Zuha festival to ensure absolute community harmony.
The Complex Daily Security Protocol and Next Steps
At present, managing the local devotees requires a highly rigorous security layout. Between 10 and 25 local residents are permitted to offer prayers five times a day, with the count rising to nearly 80 during Friday congregation. Devotees must undergo thorough screening by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at a dedicated gate on Jessore Road before being bussed directly across a high-security path to the mosque and back.
While mosque committee representatives have expressed deep cooperation, noting they do not wish to hinder the airport’s growth or international safety standards, they have requested that authorities formalise the relocation consensus by consulting major national Muslim umbrella organisations, including the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Detailed discussions to finalise an alternative site and construction blueprint are reportedly slated to resume next week.
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