Kolkata Airport Mosque Row: After 3 CMs, Will the Relocation Finally Happen?

Efforts to move a decades-old mosque from inside the high-security operational area of Kolkata's international airport have picked up speed. The move comes after officials flagged major safety and security risks to flights.

Things are finally moving. After years of back and forth, serious efforts are underway to relocate a decades-old mosque located deep inside the super-sensitive operational area of Kolkata's international airport. The whole issue has gained serious momentum after a joint team of top officials from the district administration and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) inspected the site last Tuesday.

Following the inspection, a big meeting was held on Wednesday between the state administration and representatives of the mosque committee. Officials are now putting serious pressure to shift the mosque, citing major security and safety concerns for the airport.

The 136-year-old 'Gouripur Jame Masjid', also known as Bakra Masjid, was once in a vast, empty area. But as the airport expanded over the years, it now finds itself stuck right inside the sensitive runway zone.

Big Security Threat to Flights

During the meeting at the North 24 Parganas District Magistrate's (DM) office, airport officials used maps to show the mosque committee the serious technical problems and safety challenges the structure poses to flight operations. The committee, led by former MLA Siddiqullah Chowdhury, told the officials, "We don't have the power to take such a big decision on our own. Please contact the main Muslim organisations about this."

Airport Director Vikram Singh commented on the situation, saying, "The mosque's presence inside the airport premises has been a long-standing controversial issue. We have repeatedly told the government about the problems it causes for flight operations. We had another long discussion on Wednesday and are hoping for a positive outcome soon."

A 3-Decade-Old Issue; Jyoti Basu, Mamata Banerjee Had Stalled It!

This small mosque is located just 165 metres north of the airport's secondary runway and only 150 metres inside the airport's compound wall. According to international rules, the minimum distance between a runway and any building should be 240 metres. This rule is being completely violated here.

In the past, all attempts by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to relocate the mosque were shot down for political reasons by governments led by former Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (of CPM), and Mamata Banerjee (of TMC). However, with the BJP now in power at the Centre and in West Bengal, officials are hopeful that the relocation will finally happen. The current Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, has recently expressed serious concerns about airport security and has publicly called for the mosque's immediate relocation.

Big Planes Can't Land; A Headache for Emergency Landings!

Because the mosque is right in the middle of the approach path for landing aircraft, the touchdown point (where a plane's wheels first touch the ground) on the secondary runway has been moved 88 metres to the south for safety. This has reduced the runway's usable length to just 2,832 metres. This is only enough for smaller aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

This means giant, wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 (B787) and Airbus A330 (A330), which are key to international travel, can't use this runway. The mosque has become a dangerous obstacle, especially during emergency landings.

During foggy winter days, when the main runway is not available, it's impossible to provide an alternative. The primary runway has an advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS) that allows planes to land in low visibility. But because of the mosque, this high-tech system cannot be installed on the secondary runway.

CISF Frisking and Bus Service for Prayers

Currently, about 10 to 25 local Muslims come here for the five daily prayers. They are thoroughly checked by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Jessore Road gate. After the security check, a special bus takes them across the runway to the mosque. After prayers, the bus brings them back to the gate. On Fridays, the number of people increases to about 80.

"Only locals from Bakra village are allowed to pray here. Outsiders are not permitted. We have been cooperating fully with security forces for decades and have never objected to showing our ID cards," said Abul Kalam, a member of the mosque committee. "But the big decision to move the mosque is not in our hands. We don't want a conflict with the government. We have clearly told the officials to talk to organisations like Madrasa Darul Uloom Deoband, the Muslim Personal Law Board, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind to decide on this."