Kolkata Airport Security Tightened: 136-Year-Old Bankra Mosque Set for Relocation Amid Borders Row
In a move prioritising national safety, the West Bengal government has approved the indefinite suspension of public entry passes for congregational prayers at the Bankra Mosque, which is inside the high-security zone of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. This decision signals a shift to upgrade defence infrastructure and strengthen operational capabilities at one of Eastern India's most critical transit hubs.
Geopolitical Urgency Rules Out Outsider Access
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari firmly defended the decision, stating that the gates of a vital installation with massive geopolitical importance cannot remain open to unauthorised individuals. Speaking to reporters after a party organisational meeting in Tamluk, Adhikari emphasised that the airport’s physical proximity to international borders like Bangladesh and China elevates its security status to an absolute priority that overrides all other local or religious matters. The Chief Minister clarified that the state fully respects religious freedom, noting that major festivals like Bakrid and Muharram have been celebrated peacefully under legal guidelines, but reiterated that individual faith must remain a personal affair when national safety is at stake.
High Security Zone Overlap and Aviation Constraints
The structural positioning of the Bankra Mosque—officially recorded as the Gouripur Jame Masjid—has long been a logistical hurdle for aviation authorities. Constructed in the 1890s, the shrine actually predates the airport itself, which was established as the Dum Dum Aerodrome by the British in 1924. Over decades of rapid aviation expansion, the surrounding villages were gradually moved, leaving the mosque situated deep within the airside zone, a mere 165 meters north of the secondary runway. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) raised serious alerts regarding unregulated civilian foot traffic walking into a Level 3 security environment without mandatory background verifications or biometric imaging.
Runway Expansion Plan Set in Motion
Beyond the immediate security challenges, the mosque's location has severely restricted the infrastructure upgrade of Kolkata Airport. Airport Director Vikram Singh noted that the proximity of the structure prevents the full operational utilisation of the secondary runway and delays the installation of advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS) frameworks. These upgrades are crucial for allowing flights to land safely during zero-visibility winter conditions. To address this permanently, the administration is coordinating a plan to carefully relocate the 136-year-old structure outside the designated airport boundary wall and build a new facility for the local worshippers, rather than demolishing it.
Political Debates and Community Consultation
The security measures have triggered diverse responses across the state's political spectrum. While Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar welcomed the development by stating that previous administrations avoided addressing the expansion blockades due to appeasement politics, opposition leaders like Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy urged the government to ensure that any final relocation happens through absolute consensus and active consultation with the local Muslim community and the mosque committee members.
