Prayers suspended at 136-year-old mosque inside Kolkata airport as security concerns trigger relocation talks

The mosque, located around 165 metres from the airport's secondary runway, has long been identified as a potential concern for aviation operations and emergency response procedures.

Authorities have stopped issuing entry passes to worshippers, while the state and central governments continue discussions on shifting the mosque beyond the airport premises.

Security concerns raised over access to mosque

West Bengal BJP MLA Sourav Sikdar, who represents the North Dum Dum Assembly constituency, said the issue was discussed during a recent meeting with officials.

He also visited the mosque near Jessore Road to assess the situation.

Sikdar said worshippers visiting the mosque did not require standard airport identity cards.

He alleged that visitors only needed to produce an identity document before being escorted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to the mosque located within the airport's high-security zone.

"The airport runway falls under Level 3 security. Such access arrangements raise serious security concerns," Sikdar said, adding that senior police officials had also flagged the issue.

The Bankra Mosque is located about 165 metres from the Kolkata airport runway. Photo: Google Maps

Questions raised over land ownership

The BJP legislator also questioned the ownership of the land occupied by the mosque, claiming official records identify it as property belonging to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) rather than the mosque committee.

"We requested the committee several times to shift prayers elsewhere, but they rejected the proposals," Sikdar said.

He added that prayers had been suspended temporarily to facilitate construction and development activities, while noting that the Airports Authority of India would take the final decision because the land falls under its jurisdiction.

Airport expansion plans linked to relocation proposal

According to reports, aviation authorities have for years maintained that the mosque's location has restricted expansion of the secondary runway, affected flight operations and delayed the installation of advanced Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), particularly required for aircraft operations during dense winter fog.

Sikdar said the mosque's position had operational implications for the airport.

"There is a mosque located right in the middle of the runway area at Kolkata Airport. It is situated at such a strategic location that two runways of the airport are unable to be fully operational because of it. Such a large airport is functioning with only two runways," he said.

He added that the airport serves as eastern India's largest aviation hub and occupies a strategic position for connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

"Because of the presence of the mosque, traffic was getting affected, revenue was declining and people were being deprived of potential employment and other opportunities," Sikdar said.

Security access remains under scrutiny

Sikdar also expressed concern over the access procedure for worshippers entering the mosque inside the airport's operational area.

"There is also a major security concern at the airport because people who go there to offer prayers do not require any pass, nor is any background verification conducted for them. An airport is a restricted area. Even an ordinary person entering the airport has to obtain a biometric pass with a photograph, and even then can only access a certain level," he said.

Referring to the airport's highest-security zone, he added: "To enter this area, only an Aadhaar card is required, which merely contains the person's village name… The movements of everyone, from our Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, take place through this airport. More importantly, lakhs of people travel through the airport every month. Therefore, there is always a possibility of a security breach."

Sikdar further said, "This is the reason why Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has, from the very beginning, supported the expansion and development of the airport. Now, the Airports Authority will take action to remove the mosque."

Mosque predates Kolkata airport

The Bankra Mosque predates the airport itself and is believed to have been built in the 1890s, decades before the British established the Dum Dum aerodrome in 1924.

Historical accounts indicate that the mosque originally stood within a village that existed before the airport was constructed.

During airport expansion in the 1950s and 1960s, surrounding settlements were relocated across Jessore Road, but the mosque remained within what later became the airport's operational area.

Over the years, as aircraft size increased and aviation safety regulations became more stringent, the mosque's location emerged as a recurring operational issue.

Discussions continue over relocation

According to reports, airport authorities are considering constructing a larger and more modern mosque outside the airport premises.

Representatives of the mosque committee and several Muslim organisations have reportedly participated in discussions regarding the proposal.

Authorities have not announced a final timeline for the relocation, and consultations between the concerned stakeholders remain ongoing.