Kolkata Airport’s Runway Dilemma: When Heritage Meets Flight Safety

Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, a bustling hub, faces a peculiar challenge that underscores a critical aviation safety concern. A century-old mosque, situated precariously close to the airport’s secondary runway, is preventing the installation of a vital Instrument Landing System (ILS), raising alarm bells for flight safety, particularly during periods of low visibility.

The secondary runway, while not in constant daily use, is a crucial contingency. An ILS provides precise guidance to aircraft for landing in adverse weather, ensuring safety when pilots have limited visual cues. The mosque’s location directly obstructs the clear signal path required for an ILS, rendering its installation impossible. This means that if the primary runway becomes unavailable due to maintenance, an incident, or strong crosswinds, the secondary runway lacks the modern safety infrastructure necessary for safe operations in fog or heavy rain.

While daily flights largely rely on the primary runway, the absence of an ILS on the secondary strip creates a significant vulnerability. In an emergency, or during unexpected diversions, pilots would be forced to attempt landings with less advanced guidance, drastically increasing the risk of overshooting, undershooting, or other landing mishaps, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences. This situation directly compromises the airport’s ability to maintain optimal safety standards, putting thousands of lives at an avoidable risk.

This unique confluence of historical preservation and contemporary aviation demands a pragmatic solution. The challenge at Kolkata airport serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between cultural heritage and the paramount need for uncompromising flight safety. Resolving this obstruction is not merely about upgrading infrastructure; it’s about safeguarding lives and ensuring that one of India’s key air travel gateways operates with the highest possible safety benchmarks.