Balurghat Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Location | Balurghat,West Bengal,India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 78 ft / 24 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°15′42″N88°47′44″E / 25.26167°N 88.79556°E /25.26167; 88.79556 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  RGH Location of airport in West Bengal Show map of West Bengal RGH RGH (India) Show map of India | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Sources:[1][2] | |||||||||||
Balurghat Airport (IATA:RGH,ICAO:VEBG) is located 6 km (4 mi) fromBalurghat and 34 km (21 mi) away fromGangarampur, a city inWest Bengal,India.[1] The airport is currently not in operation.[3]
During theWorld War II, a temporary airport was built by the British Air Force inBalurghat for military needs. In the 1950s, the Surekha Air Service started flying from there until it was stopped during the 1965 India Pakistan war. Finally, in 1984, Vayudoot operated out of the airport. But these flights stopped due to lack of navigation systems, lack of passengers, and financial losses.[4]
The airport covers an area of 132.66 acres (53.69 ha) at anelevation of 78 feet (24 m) abovemean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with a paved surface measuring 4,906 by 100 feet (1,495 m × 30 m).[1][5]
TheGovernment of West Bengal had planned to launch air services from the Balurghat Airport in March 2018. The government had allocated around ₹11.35 crores for the up-gradation & extension of the air-strip, passenger lounge, air traffic, restroom of crews and pilots, need-based restaurants, refreshment counters.Airport Authority of India had visited the airport for approvals.[6]
However, there are over 40 non-operational airports under the authority (Airports Authority of India). In Bengal, there are two of them — in Malda and Balurghat.