Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union civil aviation minister, stated in the Lok Sabha that the Center has set a June 2025 end date for the Bagdogra airport expansion project.

“After obtaining several approvals from the interchange departments, work will begin in December 2022 with a likely completion date of June 2025,” said Scindia, adding that the AAI planned to develop the civilian enclave at Bagdogra airport for a estimated amount of Rs 18.84 billion. .

“We are grateful to the minister for granting the funds for the development and expansion of the airport. It is located at the gateway of North Bengal, Sikkim and the eastern Himalayan region and has huge growth potential. As the Center pays due attention to the airport, we are confident that the expansion of the airport will contribute to the progress of the region,” said BJP MP Raju Bista.

More than ten years ago, numerous parties repeatedly called for expansion of the airport's infrastructure, especially given the steadily increasing number of flights and the influx of passengers.

The current capacity of the airport is 7.5 lakh passengers per annum. Nearly two million people traveled through Bagdogra Airport during the previous fiscal year.

There were more than 4,500 people at the airport and there were 42 flight movements.

The state government donated 100 acres to the center on March 16, 2022. On April 14, 2022, the ministry issued a tender for the preparation of a master plan and the expansion work of the first phase.

“Bagdogra airport is strategically very important. That is why the Center seems to want to complete the work within three years,” said a former soldier.

CISF personnel detained Md Amir and Md Shahjahan, two citizens of Kishanganj, Bihar, for entering the airport. Without permission, the pair entered the airport and were discovered taking photos. They were then delivered to Bagdogra Police Station. Police have opened an investigation into their entry into the airport after receiving a report.