The Ministry of Civil Aviation had invited bids for preparing a master plan for the Bagdogra airport expansion in two phases, execution of the first one and setting aside Rs 1,300 crore for the project. A new terminal and several other facilities are planned at the airport because of the increasing number of flights and passengers. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) invited bids on 4 April for architectural and engineering consultancy, preparing a master plan keeping in mind the requirement at Bagdogra airport in the next 30 years and executing the first expansion phase. AAI had set 39 months for the execution of the first phase. From the 39 months, seven months are allotted for preparing the master plan. The bids were invited within 20 days of the Bengal government handing over the AAI land required for the airport’s expansion. The state government transferred around 100 acres of land to the AAI on 16 March. Around Rs 1,312.88 crore would be spent on the expansion project. Earlier, it was estimated Rs 600 crore for enhancing the facilities. Facilities, including aircraft parking bays, link taxiways, terminal, fire station, apron control tower, security cabins, watchtowers, navigation aids building, car parking space, residential accommodation for AAI and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), guest rooms, retiring rooms, fuel hydrant facilities, sewerage system, sewerage treatment plant, approach road and internal roads, will be included in the project. The winning bidder will be responsible for facade designing, passenger movement system, baggage handling system and IT system. Presently, the terminal can handle around 7.5 lakh passengers per year. But in the first 11 months of the last fiscal, 17.5 lakh passengers moved through the airport. Ambulift, a mechanised lift for physically-challenged board or deboarding an aircraft, was introduced at the Bagdogra airport. Ambulift has been commissioned at Bagdogra airport for divyang passengers with reduced mobility as a part of the social welfare policy of AAI. Image Source Also read: Civil aviation ministry shortlists 2 sites for Chennai's 2nd airport