Kolkata Airport to Demolish Old Domestic Terminal to Make Way for New International Hub; Capacity Set to Rise from 26 to 45 Million Annually
Kolkata Airport to Demolish Old Domestic Terminal to Make Way for New International Hub; Capacity Set to Rise from 26 to 45 Million Annually
Expansion aims to boost capacity from 26 million to 45 million passengers annually
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata is gearing up for a significant expansion, with the old domestic terminal slated for demolition to make space for a new international passenger facility. Airport authorities have confirmed that this development is crucial to accommodate surging passenger volumes and to reinforce Kolkata’s standing as a key aviation hub in eastern India.
“The current integrated terminal, spread over 222,973 square metres, is a workhorse, presently handling 8,460 peak-hour passengers 5,500 domestic and 2,960 international,” said Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria, Director of NSCBI Airport. “With an annual passenger capacity of 26 million (2.6 crore), this is expected to reach saturation by 2025–26.”
Once completed, the new international terminal is projected to add capacity for 2 million additional passengers per year. To manage increasing traffic in the interim, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is also expanding the current terminal’s international sections, adding 3,000 sq m to the departure area and 2,600 sq m to arrivals. The modular 71,000 sq ft expansion is expected to be completed by year-end, raising the total annual capacity to 28 million passengers.
The old domestic terminal, decommissioned over a decade ago, had been repurposed for various uses including serving as a quarantine centre during the COVID-19 pandemic and hosting an RT-PCR testing facility for international arrivals between 2020 and 2022. It also supported Haj operations during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Demolition of the structure, including the air traffic surveillance building, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year or early next year. Public sector enterprise MSTC Ltd has been awarded the contract to auction the salvaged materials. A segregation wall has already been erected to separate the old terminal from the apron area, while maintaining a passage for Haj pilgrims using Saudi Arabia Airlines.
“The segregation wall is important both for the safety and security of airlines and airport ground staff, as well as aircraft and other equipment deployed in the apron area,” an airport official explained.
The new terminal, designed in a U-shape and initially dedicated to international operations, is part of a long-term strategy to future-proof the airport. When the projects are fully realised, NSCBI Airport will have a combined annual handling capacity of 45 million passengers, 36 million domestic and 9 million international.
“This expansion will help future-proof the airport against rising passenger demand in the coming decades and strengthen its position as a major aviation hub in the region,” officials said.
