Kolkata Airport’s 136-Year-Old Mosque: The Structure That Never Moved

The 136-year-old Bankra Mosque, also known as Gauripur Jama Masjid, has once again come under scrutiny as the West Bengal government renews its efforts to relocate the historic structure. Builders constructed the mosque in the 1890s, decades before the British established the Dum Dum Aerodrome in 1924, which later became Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Despite repeated relocation attempts over the years, successive governments allowed the mosque to remain in its original location. Recently, authorities suspended public access after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) raised concerns about allowing devotees into a highly sensitive airport zone without full security verification.

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136-Year-Old Kolkata Airport Mosque Faces Fresh Relocation Debate

The mosque stands just 165 metres from the airport’s secondary runway, falling short of the mandatory 240-metre safety distance required under aviation regulations. Airport officials say the mosque’s location, along with a nearby pond, has restricted the runway’s full operational capacity and limited its use mainly to narrow-body aircraft. The Airports Authority of India previously modified the runway configuration as a temporary solution, but officials believe the existing arrangement continues to reduce airport efficiency, especially during dense fog when the secondary runway cannot accommodate advanced landing systems.

The mosque has remained in place despite several phases of airport expansion. During the 1950s and 1960s, authorities relocated nearby villages to create space for airport development but left the mosque untouched under an understanding reached at the time. Officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and successive West Bengal governments held several rounds of discussions to relocate the structure, but none produced a final agreement. As a result, airport planners expanded the airport around the mosque instead of moving it.

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Runway Expansion Plans Bring Mosque Back Into Focus

The issue has gained fresh political attention after the BJP formed governments at both the Centre and in West Bengal. State leaders argue that relocating the mosque will improve airport infrastructure, expand the secondary runway, and strengthen national security because of Kolkata airport’s strategic location near international borders. They have also announced plans to relocate a nearby temple as part of the same development project, stressing that the decision focuses on infrastructure and safety rather than religion. However, the government has not announced any official timeline for the relocation.

Religious organisations and mosque authorities continue to oppose the proposed relocation, arguing that the mosque predates the airport and represents an important part of the area’s historical heritage. They have urged the government to avoid any forced action and instead reach a mutually acceptable solution through dialogue. For now, authorities have only suspended the entry of worshippers while discussions continue. The long-running dispute remains unresolved as officials try to balance aviation safety, infrastructure development, heritage preservation, and religious sentiments.

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