Kolkata airport's anti-fog system held up due to lack of space

Kolkata, Jan 07 Despite getting the necessary sanction one year ago, the N S C Bose International Airport authorities here are unable to install the Instrument Landing System that helps pilots to land in adverse visibility conditions as the space needed to install it is not available.
"The central government sanctioned the CAT-3ILS for the airport one year ago, but for its installation we need two kilometre of vacant space on both sides of the runway or the system will not work properly," DG (Operation) of NSC Bose International Airport, Mahes Kaul.

There are hotels, restaurants, factories, residential complexes and slum areas along the Jessore and VIP roads flanking the eight kilometre airport area, Kaul said.

"If the system has to be installed then a lot of these buildings will have to be demolished. We have spoken to some people occupying these buildings but they are not ready to accept our proposal," he said.

"If the system is made operational, planes can take off and land even if visibility is only 50 metres," he said.

At present such a system is available only at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.