India to Operationalize 5 Airbases on 3 Sides of Bangladesh

To enhance regional connectivity and ensure strategic security in the states bordering Bangladesh, the Indian government has taken the initiative to revive five abandoned airstrips/airbases from World War II.

The main objective of renovating these bases located in West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura is to further strengthen the protection of India’s extremely sensitive “Siliguri Corridor” or “Chicken’s Neck”.

According to a report by The Times of India, this initiative has been taken at a time when diplomatic relations with neighbouring Bangladesh are at their lowest point in history. New Delhi is currently unwilling to take any kind of risk regarding the security of this narrow corridor, which is the only land connection between Northeast India and the mainland.

Defence analysts see Bangladesh’s initiative to reconstruct the Lalmonirhat airbase in the Rangpur division as a major reason behind India’s activity. Since the Lalmonirhat airbase is located very close to India’s Siliguri Corridor, concerns have arisen in Indian military circles.

Although the Bangladesh government has officially stated that this airbase will be used only for its own national needs, according to Indian sources, India is also revamping its military preparations to handle any sudden situation in the border area. Already, three new army bases have been established in areas bordering West Bengal and Bihar, and the process of activating these five airstrips is part of those military preparations.

According to the plan, the airstrips to be renovated are Ambari and Panga in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal; Balurghat in South Dinajpur; Jhaljhalia in Malda; and Dhubri in Assam. Prior to this, Koch Bihar and Rupsi Airport in Assam had been successfully activated.

Currently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has handed over the responsibility of the airfields in West Bengal to the state government.

However, defence sources have indicated that there are several technical challenges in making these abandoned airstrips usable again. Due to being unused for several decades, many airfields are now covered in dense jungles, the runways have broken down and become damaged, and in some cases, settlements have developed around the runways.

Consequently, although they are currently not suitable for large combat aircraft operations, efforts are underway to make them usable for landing helicopters or small military aircraft in emergencies through minor repairs.