According to Adhikari, unauthorised individuals have been entering airport premises, with some reportedly seen offering prayers within the restricted zone
West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has raised serious security concerns over the perimeter of Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, urging the immediate sealing of its boundary. Addressing the media on 26 June, Adhikari described the current porous condition of the airport’s perimeter wall as a “major security risk” and called on authorities to act without delay. The airport, which connects India to several international destinations including Bangladesh and China, demands the highest level of security vigilance, he said.
According to Adhikari, unauthorised individuals have been entering airport premises, with some reportedly seen offering prayers within the restricted zone. He flagged this as a significant vulnerability, especially given the strategic importance of the site. “This is a matter of great concern from a security perspective. The airport boundary must be closed immediately,” he said, demanding urgent intervention to prevent any potential threat to national security.
Adhikari also criticised delays in operationalising two newly constructed runways at the airport. The runways, funded by the central government and completed as per schedule, remain non-functional due to the presence of a mosque located near one of them, he claimed. The state government, according to him, has failed to relocate the structure, causing a delay in fully utilising critical airport infrastructure. “Such justifications are unacceptable. Infrastructure essential for aviation safety and capacity cannot be held up indefinitely,” Adhikari asserted.
He further claimed that while the central government had fulfilled its responsibilities by funding and completing the runway construction, the state government’s inaction was undermining progress. “This cannot go on,” he said. “The integrity of a sensitive international aviation hub is at stake.”
Adhikari’s remarks come in the wake of broader scrutiny over infrastructure and security management at critical transport nodes across the country. His comments also included a political swipe at the state government, accusing it of skipping International Yoga Day celebrations. He noted that over 180 countries marked the day, but West Bengal’s conspicuous absence reflected what he alleged was the state government’s ideological and political alignment away from national interests. “They appear more aligned with Dhaka than with Delhi,” Adhikari said, in a pointed critique of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The remarks have reignited political tensions between the Centre and the West Bengal government, with airport infrastructure and national security once again emerging as flashpoints. Adhikari’s demand for sealing the boundary wall and operationalising the new runways adds pressure on the state authorities to address long-standing concerns over the safety and efficiency of Kolkata’s primary aviation gateway.
