Kolkata Airport Mosque Controversy Resurfaces: How a 130-Year-Old Mosque Ended Up Inside the Runway Zone

A long-standing controversy resurfaced this week over the presence of a mosque inside Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, after a parliamentary reply revealed that the mosque’s location near the secondary runway raises operational safety concerns.

The Bankra mosque, situated less than 300 metres from the runway, has been a sensitive issue for decades. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in response to questions from West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, acknowledged that the mosque’s presence “obstructs safe aircraft operations” and reduces usable runway length during emergencies.

The matter escalated when BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya highlighted the MoCA response, alleging that passenger safety is being compromised due to political appeasement.

Why the Mosque Became a Political Flashpoint

BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya and Suvendu Adhikari, assert that the mosque’s proximity to the runway hampers Kolkata Airport’s expansion and compromises security. Adhikari previously raised concerns over prayer gatherings inside a high-security aviation zone, calling for sealing the airport’s boundary.

The airport is part of India’s critical infrastructure, and any permanent structure near runways must meet strict aviation norms — a reason why concerns continue to grow as passenger and aircraft traffic rise.

Which Came First — The Airport or the Mosque?

The central question — how a mosque ended up inside an international airport — traces back over a century, long before modern aviation reached Bengal.

Key historical facts:

• The mosque was built in the 1890s, when the area was a village settlement.
• The British constructed the first aerodrome in 1924 near Dum Dum Cantonment — decades after the mosque already existed.
• Major expansions in the 1950s and 60s introduced a new secondary runway. Villages in the region were cleared, but the mosque was allowed to remain under certain agreements during land acquisition in 1962.
• As aviation traffic surged over the years, the mosque became embedded in the airport’s operational perimeter.

Today, the structure appears inside the restricted zone — an unusual situation in global airport design.

Repeated Attempts to Relocate the Mosque

Efforts to shift the mosque have continued for more than 20 years, but have been met with resistance from the local Muslim community and the mosque committee.

Attempts included:

• 2003: A runway diversion plan after relocation talks stalled
• 2019: AAI proposal for a tunnel access route from Jessore Road — blocked due to security concerns
• 2023: A shuttle bus introduced to ferry devotees through a 225-metre passage overlapping a taxiway

The mosque reportedly receives 60–250 worshippers daily, with higher footfall during Fridays and Ramadan.

Why the Issue Is Back in Focus

As political tensions rise in West Bengal, airport expansion plans — including new terminal and runway upgrades — are again under discussion. The presence of the mosque restricts development and complicates emergency runway use.

Writers like Taslima Nasreen have also voiced concerns, arguing that the airport’s security cannot be compromised and urging community leaders to support a relocation solution.

The Core of the Conflict

The unique situation stems from decisions made during land acquisition in the 1960s, when the 130-year-old mosque was preserved even as surrounding villages were cleared. Now, with heightened aviation norms and expanding passenger loads, airport authorities, political leaders, and the local community remain locked in a stalemate over safety, heritage, and religious sentiments.

Originally published on 24×7-news.com.