Bengal Gives land for Hasimara Air Base Expansions, announces airports, administrative reforms in Budget

Correspondent

Underscoring the strategic importance of North Bengal, the newly formed BJP led West Bengal government will provide 25 acres of land for the expansion and modernization of the Hasimara Air Force Station, one of India’s key military installations in the eastern sector to the centre, the state’s Rs 4.39-lakh-crore budget reads. Located close to the borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh and near the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, Hasimara plays a crucial role in India’s air defence and regional security architecture. The proposed expansion is aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and enhancing defence preparedness in the sector.

Announcing the decision on Monday, West Bengal’s Finance Minister Dr. Swapan Dasgupta said that, for similar security concerns, 37 acres of land would be allotted to the Indian Air Force in Kolkata.

Dr. Swapan Dasgupta further unveiled plans to develop three new airports in Purulia, Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, and Malda. In addition, the existing airport in Cooch Behar will be expanded, with the state allocating ₹10 crore for the project in the current financial year. To reduce congestion at Kolkata Airport, a greenfield airport will also be developed near Kalyani in Nadia district, the budget reads. The state will identify between 1,000 and 1,500 acres of land for the proposed facility.

Hasimara Airbase has emerged as one of India’s most consequential eastern air nodes because it sits close to the Indo-Bhutan border, within quick reach of the Chumbi Valley tri-junction, and astride the wider security arc that touches Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and China’s Tibet frontier. The air base played a critical role in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Hasimara is a quaint town located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal. 

Hasimara strengthens India’s ability to watch over the Siliguri Corridor, “Chicken’s Neck” the narrow land bridge linking the Northeast to the rest of India, while also improving deterrence against any fast-moving contingency along the eastern Himalayas. The base was also chosen for the Rafale build-up, with reports noting that a second Rafale squadron was planned for Hasimara, making it a high-end fighter hub designed for rapid response, deep surveillance, and air dominance in a sensitive theater. The base helps India project readiness toward the China-facing mountain belt, reassure the Siliguri lifeline, and complicate any attempt to pressure the region through air or land coercion. The air base played a critical role in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. 

Nestled among tea gardens, Hasimara has nurtured several notable talents; among them is Shoojit Sircar, the acclaimed Bollywood director known for films such as Vicky Donor and Piku.