West Bengal Airport Push and Kerala Bus Revamp: How Transport Policy Shapes Regional Growth
On September 22, 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that the Airports Authority of India is preparing a detailed project report to assess the viability of developing four new airports in West Bengal. The move aims to boost regional connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and potentially integrate the sites into the government's UDAN regional airline scheme. The proposed airports would revive airstrips at Balurghat and Purulia and convert IAF bases at Kalaikunda and Hasimara into commercial hubs, expanding West Bengal’s airport network by roughly 30%.
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- •The Union government is evaluating four new airports in West Bengal—reviving Balurghat and Purulia airstrips and converting the IAF bases at Kalaikunda and Hasimara for civilian use—while Kerala’s KSRTC celebrates the Priyadarshini free‑travel scheme and announces a fleet expansion to 10 000 buses.
- •Both moves test the constitutional balance of transport powers and the effectiveness of central‑state coordination under flagship schemes such as UDAN.
The Union government is evaluating four new airports in West Bengal—reviving Balurghat and Purulia airstrips and converting the IAF bases at Kalaikunda and Hasimara for civilian use—while Kerala’s KSRTC celebrates the Priyadarshini free‑travel scheme and announces a fleet expansion to 10 000 buses. Both moves test the constitutional balance of transport powers and the effectiveness of central‑state coordination under flagship schemes such as UDAN.
Legal Foundations of Transport Governance
India’s transport sector rests on a clear constitutional allocation. Article 246 places roads, railways, shipping and aviation in the Union List, giving the Centre exclusive legislative competence. The National Transport Development Policy Committee Report 2019 urges integrated multimodal projects, but such initiatives require inter‑governmental agreements.
- ▸Article 246 assigns transport to the Union List.
- ▸The NTDPC 2019 report recommends coordinated air‑road‑water corridors.
- ▸On the Tuesday preceding the news, the Ministry of Civil Aviation signed MoUs with 21 states and UTs to spearhead regional connectivity.
These provisions enable the Centre to prepare detailed project reports while obliging states to provide land and local clearances.
West Bengal’s Airport Blueprint
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is drafting a detailed project report for four airports, reviving the dormant airstrips at Balurghat and Purulia and converting the IAF stations at Kalaikunda and Hasimara into civil enclaves. The proposal aligns with the UDAN scheme, which subsidises airlines serving tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, though its inclusion remains unconfirmed. Political change may accelerate land hand‑over: the BJP’s 2026 victory in the state assembly is expected to smooth negotiations that stalled under the previous administration.
- ▸AAI is assessing feasibility of four new airports in West Bengal.
- ▸UDAN subsidises airlines to tier‑2/‑3 cities, but airport inclusion is still under review.
- ▸Minister Murlidhar Mohol raised the land‑handover issue in the Rajya Sabha, August 2026.
- ▸The BJP’s 2026 electoral win in West Bengal could ease the land‑transfer process.
Did You Know? The combined land earmarked for the two air‑force civil enclaves is just 76.25 acres—about the size of 57 football fields.
Kerala’s KSRTC Expansion and Multimodal Push
Kerala’s Priyadarshini free‑travel scheme for women, inaugurated at Thampanoor Central Bus Depot on 22 September 2026, has spurred consumer spending and prompted KSRTC to broaden its services. The corporation plans to grow its fleet from 5 700 to 10 000 buses, lease trucks for freight linked to the Vizhinjam International Seaport, and partner with the Water Transport department to bundle budget tourism packages with the Water Metro. Additional buses will be earmarked for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, while retired drivers and small operators are invited to lease new vehicles.
- ▸100‑day celebrations of the scheme were launched on 22 Sept 2026 at Thampanoor.
- ▸KSRTC targets a fleet of 10 000 buses, up from 5 700.
- ▸An MoU with Water Transport will integrate budget tourism packages with the Water Metro.
- ▸Trucks will be leased to serve freight opportunities at Vizhinjam International Seaport.
These steps illustrate a state‑led effort to weave air, road and water transport into a cohesive growth strategy.
Coordination Hurdles and Ground Realities
Despite high‑level agreements, practical obstacles persist. AAI has formally requested 38.25 acres at Kalaikunda and 38 acres at Hasimara for civil enclaves—land that the state must release. Similarly, KSRTC’s expansion hinges on diesel supply and staffing arrangements for locally owned buses, a model that requires clear fiscal and operational protocols. The success of both projects will hinge on the Centre’s ability to leverage Article 246 while respecting state autonomy, and on the timely execution of MoUs that bind resources to outcomes.
- ▸AAI seeks 38.25 acres at Kalaikunda and 38 acres at Hasimara.
- ▸State governments must hand over land for civil enclaves to activate airport plans.
- ▸Central‑state MoUs are prerequisite for UDAN‑linked airport projects.
- ▸KSRTC will provide diesel and staff for buses purchased by local bodies.
Strategic Implications and the Road Ahead
If the airports materialise, travel time to the northeastern corridor and the Bangladesh border could shrink dramatically, bolstering trade and security logistics. Kerala’s enlarged bus fleet will ease pilgrimage flows to Sabarimala, stimulate tourism revenue, and create a logistics backbone for the Vizhinjam port’s cargo surge. Both initiatives embody the NTDPC’s vision of a seamless multimodal network, but their fruition will test the robustness of India’s federal transport architecture and the political will to resolve land‑acquisition bottlenecks.
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