West Bengal state officials have begun relocating the Bankra Mosque from inside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to a new site [1, 2].
The move is intended to clear the area surrounding the secondary runway and address long-standing safety and operational concerns regarding the structure's location within airport limits [1].
The mosque is 136 years old [1]. For over a century, the site remained unmoved despite the tenures of three different chief ministers [1]. The current administration is now pushing for the relocation to ensure the airport's infrastructure is not hindered by the presence of the building [1].
Officials conducted an inspection of the mosque on Tuesday to prepare for the transition [1, 2]. During the relocation process, which began on Saturday, entry for Namaz has been closed to the public [2].
The Bankra Mosque had previously been shielded by various political administrations, including the CPM and TMC [1]. The decision to move the structure marks a shift in how the state government manages the intersection of historical religious sites, and critical transport infrastructure [1].
The mosque will be moved to a location outside the airport boundaries to ensure that prayer services can continue without impacting aviation safety [1, 2].
“The mosque is 136 years old.”
The relocation of the Bankra Mosque represents a prioritization of aviation safety and infrastructure modernization over the preservation of a historical site in its original location. By moving the 136-year-old structure, the West Bengal government aims to eliminate a potential obstacle near the secondary runway, resolving a decades-long administrative stalemate involving multiple political parties.
