The West Bengal government will sign an agreement with the Centre on September 28 to set up an airport in Purulia under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday, as his government seeks to expand aviation infrastructure and attract fresh investment to the western district.
Adhikari made the announcement after chairing an administrative review meeting at the Circuit House in Purulia. He said preparations for the airport had been finalised and the state government had already applied for the requisite licence.
“We have to bring in aeroplanes here. An agreement will be signed with the Centre on September 28 for the airport under the UDAN scheme,” Adhikari said, adding that the state transport secretary and a representative of the civil aviation authorities were present as preparations for the project moved forward.
Airport under UDAN
The proposed airport will be developed under the Centre’s UDAN, or Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, scheme, which seeks to improve air connectivity to underserved and unserved regions.
The airport is proposed at Chharra near Purulia town. The project is expected to improve connectivity to the western part of West Bengal and support tourism, trade and industrial activity in Purulia and surrounding areas.
The state government will coordinate with the Centre and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for developing the facility. The September 28 agreement is expected to formally take the project to its next stage.
The airport is also part of a broader plan to expand regional aviation in West Bengal. The state government has proposed new or upgraded aviation facilities at several locations to connect districts that currently have limited access to commercial air services.
Rs 1 lakh crore investment
Adhikari said his government was seeking to transform Purulia into a major industrial hub and expected investments of around Rs 1 lakh crore in the district within a year.
The Chief Minister said proposals were in the pipeline across the defence, steel, cement and solar energy sectors, with particularly strong interest in solar projects.
He also referred to a major industrial project at Raghunathpur, where a foundation-laying ceremony has already been held, as an indication of the investment push planned for the district.
The government intends to combine industrial expansion with improvements in transport and tourism infrastructure, Adhikari said.
Tourism push
Purulia, known for the Ayodhya Hills, forests and its distinctive cultural traditions, has emerged as an important tourism destination in western Bengal. The government expects improved air connectivity to make the district more accessible to visitors while supporting hospitality and other tourism-linked businesses.
Adhikari said the administration would also undertake measures to expand tourism infrastructure in the district as part of the wider development plan.
The proposed Purulia airport would add to the state’s regional aviation network and provide a direct air link to an area currently dependent primarily on road and rail connectivity.
The September 28 agreement will mark a key step towards operationalising the project, though the government has yet to announce a timeline for the commencement of commercial flights.