West Bengal state officials and airport authorities are moving to relocate a 136-year-old [1] mosque located inside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
The move addresses critical security concerns and operational needs for the airport runway. Because the structure sits within a high-security operational area, its presence has long been viewed as a hurdle to the facility's efficiency and safety.
For over a century, the mosque remained in place despite the airport's expansion. According to reports, the structure remained unmoved through the terms of three different chief ministers [2]. Previous administrations, including those under the CPM and TMC, had shielded the site from relocation efforts.
This shift in trajectory follows a change in the West Bengal state government. The current administration said it supports the relocation to ensure the airport can operate without the constraints posed by the historic building.
Recent actions include a formal inspection of the site, which was carried out on a Tuesday earlier this year [2]. This inspection served as a preliminary step in determining how to move the structure while managing the sensitivities surrounding the religious site.
Airport authorities said they intend to clear the runway area to streamline operations. The relocation is intended to resolve the conflict between maintaining a historic religious site, and meeting the rigorous security standards of a modern international aviation hub.
“The mosque remained unmoved through the terms of three different chief ministers.”
The relocation of the mosque reflects a transition in West Bengal's political priorities, where infrastructure and security requirements are now taking precedence over the preservation of a site that had previously enjoyed political protection. This move signals a broader effort to modernize the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to meet international aviation standards.
