Kolkata’s fresh arrival?

Days after the much-delayed new integrated terminal of Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was inaugurated by the President of India in March this year, some were left wondering if the building had been thrown open a little too early. Within a fortnight of the first Kolkata-Delhi-London flight taking off, a stink was raised by concerned citizens over cracking glass panes, inadequate signage, lack of F&B counters and smoking room, and, finally, stinking loos. The five-tier glass and steel structure looks imposing though, and is large enough to handle twenty million passengers annually, up from the nine million the previous managed. Many more check-in and immigration counters, better baggage handling, travelators, additional aerobridges, two-tier operations for arrivals and departures, landscaped courtyards and comfortable seating are added attractions. Rabindranath Tagore-inspired Bengali letters on the ceiling present a strong aesthetic statement, while tiring blowups and grumpy officials indicate the sarkari lineage. The teething troubles are being fixed, and four international airlines have evinced interest in starting Kolkata operations, it is reported. More flights and a higher footfall should, hopefully, add the colour and character that some might find lacking for now.