Entry to the Gauripur (Bankra) Jama Masjid inside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has been halted, stopping the performance of Namaz prayers.
The restriction marks a significant shift in the management of the airport's interior space, pitting long-standing religious practices against modern aviation and national security requirements.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) backed the move to curb access to the site [1]. Adhikari said that national security and the security of the Kolkata international airport took precedence over everything else [2].
The mosque is 136 years old [3]. According to the administration, the presence of the religious site hampers the full operational use of the airport's two runways [4].
Adhikari argued that strategic locations should not house religious institutions. "There should be no religious place inside the airport," Adhikari said. "An airport is a strategic location, and national security must remain the top priority" [5].
The Gauripur (Bankra) Jama Masjid, also known as the Bankra Masjid, has historically been a site for prayer within the airport complex [6]. The current restrictions prevent worshippers from entering the grounds to perform their daily prayers.
“"There should be no religious place inside the airport."”
The decision to restrict access to a century-old religious site within a critical infrastructure hub reflects a prioritizing of operational efficiency and security over traditional land use. By citing the impact on the airport's two runways, the government is framing the issue as a technical and safety necessity rather than a purely political or religious move.
