Mosque in the middle of Kolkata airport? Centre confirms flight risks, BJP fires at Mamata

The mosque, built in the late 1890s, is reportedly hindering the full utilisation of the air base, particularly the secondary runway used during emergencies or when the primary runway is unavailable.

The issue, long known to Kolkata residents, has resurfaced as a matter of political debate.

Over the years, various governments proposed relocating the Bankra Mosque to a nearby location outside the airport, but the Muslim community reportedly opposed these plans.

Recently, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya raised the matter in Parliament, questioning why the mosque had not been moved despite multiple requests.

Responding, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the mosque “is situated in the approach area of the secondary runway which displaces the northern side threshold by 88 metres,” affecting safe airport operations.

The Airports Authority of India has reportedly approached the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to obtain approvals for demolishing old terminal buildings at the airport. However, the timeline for the new terminal project remains contingent on these approvals.

The issue has also become a political flashpoint in the poll-bound state.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya criticized the Mamata Banerjee government, stating on X, "Passenger safety cannot be sacrificed for appeasement politics. Mamata Banerjee must know that."

Earlier this year, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari flagged the situation as “a major security risk,” adding that the mosque’s location, which forces the airport boundary to remain unsealed, is “a matter of great concern from a security perspective.”