Roberta Aguirre
Dum Dum, a city in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal, is home to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, also known as Kolkata Airport. The airport, founded in the early 1900s, is a major aviation hub, serving as a strategic stopover for flights between North America and Europe and destinations in Indochina and Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport |
| Local name | Kolkata Airport |
| City | Kolkata (Calcutta) |
| State | West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Metro station | Dum Dum |
| Railway station | Dum Dum Cantonment |
| Year founded | Early 1900s |
| Previous name | Calcutta Aerodrome |
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What You'll Learn
Dum Dum is in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Dum Dum is a city and municipality in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area of the North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, India. Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city in the southeastern part of West Bengal state, in northeastern India. Dum Dum is an industrial suburb of Kolkata, and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, also known as Kolkata Airport, is located here. The airport was founded in the early 1900s as the Calcutta Aerodrome and has since become the sixth-busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic.
The name Dum Dum is derived from the Persian word 'damdama', which refers to a raised mound or battery. The area was previously called 'Domdoma'. Dum Dum is divided into three parts, each governed by separate municipalities: South Dum Dum, Dum Dum, and North Dum Dum. The localities within Dum Dum include Airport 1 No. Gate, Airport 2 No. Gate, Airport 2.5 No. Gate, Motilal Colony, Gora Bazar, Mall Road, and Italgacha, among others.
The airport is easily accessible via various transportation options. The Kolkata Suburban Railway system previously had a 4-kilometre-long elevated track connecting the airport with Dum Dum Cantonment railway station, which was closed in 2016. Currently, the nearest railway stations to the airport are Dum Dum Cantonment and Durganagar. Dum Dum has a well-connected network of blue-yellow private buses, minibuses, taxis, and autos (rickshaws). The airport is also served by the Dum Dum metro station, which is adjacent to the Dum Dum Junction railway station.
Dum Dum has a rich history, particularly during the 19th century when it was home to the Dum Dum Arsenal, a British Royal Artillery facility. It was during this time that the 'dum-dum' bullet, more formally known as an expanding bullet, was developed by Captain Neville Bertie-Clay. The airport has played a significant role in aviation history, with pioneering flights passing through, including Amelia Earhart's in 1937. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces for combat missions over Burma and as a cargo aerial port.
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The airport is named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Dum Dum Airport, officially known as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, is located in the industrial suburbs of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal, India. The airport is named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian nationalist and revolutionary leader prominent in the Indian independence movement against British rule.
Bose, who was born into a wealthy and privileged Bengali family in 1897, became a hero to many Indians due to his defiance of British authority. He was a participant in the non-cooperation movement and a leader of the Indian National Congress, advocating for a more militant and socialist approach to India's independence. His title, 'Netaji', meaning 'respected leader' in Hindustani, was first used by Indian soldiers and officials in Germany and has since been used throughout India.
Bose's escape from British surveillance in Calcutta in 1941 involved him dressing as a Pathan to avoid identification. He later travelled to Nazi Germany, where he formed alliances that have left a controversial legacy. Despite his controversial wartime alliances, Bose is revered for his role in India's independence movement. He led the 40,000-strong Indian National Army, composed of former Indian prisoners of war and Indian expatriates, against the Western powers during World War II.
The airport itself was founded in the early 1900s as the Calcutta Aerodrome and has since become a significant hub for air travel in the region. It has won several awards, including the Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific region in 2014 and 2015 and the Best Airport by Hygiene Measures in the Asia-Pacific in 2020.
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It was founded in the early 1900s as Calcutta Aerodrome
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, locally known as Kolkata Airport, is situated in Dum Dum, Kolkata, India. The airport was founded in the early 1900s as the Calcutta Aerodrome, making it one of the oldest airports in the country.
The history of the airport goes back to the early 1900s when it was founded as an open ground next to the Royal Artillery Armoury in Dum Dum. The area of Dum Dum was derived from the Persian word "damdama", which refers to a raised mound or battery. During the 19th century, it was home to the Dum Dum Arsenal, a British Royal Artillery facility where the famous dum-dum bullet was developed.
In February 1929, Sir Stanley Jackson, the Governor of Bengal, opened the Bengal Flying Club at the Dum Dum/Calcutta aerodrome. The airfield was made fit for year-round use in 1930, attracting airlines such as Air Orient and Imperial Airways, which began scheduled stops at Calcutta as part of their international routes. Many pioneering flights passed through the airport, including Amelia Earhart's in 1937.
The airport played a strategic role during World War II, with the United States Army Air Forces using it as a base for combat missions over Burma. It also served as a cargo aerial port and a communication centre for the Tenth Air Force. After the war, passenger services grew, and the airport became a major hub for air traffic in the region.
Today, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in India, handling around 22 million passengers in the 2024-25 financial year. It is a major centre for flights to Northeast India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The airport has been recognised for its improvements and hygiene measures, receiving awards from the Airport Council International.
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It's one of the busiest airports in India
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, commonly known as Dum Dum Airport, is located in the Indian city of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the busiest airports in India, serving as a primary aviation hub for eastern and northeastern regions of the country. With a long history dating back to the early 1900s, the airport has played a significant role in the aviation industry, both domestically and internationally.
Dum Dum Airport has consistently ranked among the top busiest airports in India. In the financial year 2024-25, it was the sixth-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, handling around 21.8 to 22 million passengers. The airport also witnessed approximately 408 flights departing and arriving daily. This high volume of passenger traffic and flight movements underscores its significance in the region.
Several factors contribute to the airport's busy nature. Firstly, Kolkata's rapid urbanisation has led to an increased demand for domestic and international travel. Additionally, Dum Dum Airport serves as a major gateway to northeast India and neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Southeast Asian nations. It is also a popular stopover for flights connecting North America and Europe with Indochina and Australia.
The airport has undergone various expansion and modernisation plans to accommodate growing passenger numbers. A new domestic terminal, Terminal 2, was opened in 1995, and the airport was renamed after Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent leader in India's independence movement. The implementation of a comprehensive modernisation plan included expanding runways, adding rapid-exit taxiways, and constructing new hangars and bays.
Dum Dum Airport has received recognition for its improvements and hygiene measures, winning awards from the Airport Council International. With ongoing expansion plans and initiatives by the Government of India to enhance aviation infrastructure, Dum Dum Airport is poised to continue its role as one of the busiest airports in the country, catering to the needs of travellers in eastern and northeastern India.
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The area was previously known as Domdoma
The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, locally known as Kolkata Airport, is situated in Dum Dum, a city and municipality in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area was previously known as Domdoma, derived from the Persian word damdama, meaning a raised mound or battery.
Dum Dum is a vast locality with many Postal Index Numbers, and it is bounded by North Dum Dum on the north and partly on the west, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation areas on the east, and South Dum Dum on the south and partly on the west. The city is home to several well-known educational institutions, including Sarojini Naidu College for Women, established in 1956, and a number of older secondary schools.
The airport itself began as an open ground next to the Royal Artillery Armoury in Dum Dum and has since become a major aviation hub, handling around 22 million passengers in the 2024-25 financial year, making it the sixth-busiest airport in India. The airport is easily accessible via the Kolkata Suburban Railway system's circular line branch, which connects the airport's Biman Bandar railway station with Dum Dum Cantonment railway station.
Dum Dum is also known for its historical significance, particularly during the 19th century when it was the site of the Dum Dum Arsenal, a British Royal Artillery facility. It was here that Captain Neville Bertie-Clay developed the hollow-point bullet, also known as the "dum-dum" bullet, in the early 1890s.
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Frequently asked questions
The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, also known as Kolkata Airport, is located in Dum Dum, Kolkata, India.
The airport was founded in the early 1900s as the Calcutta Aerodrome and was an open ground next to the Royal Artillery Armoury in Dum Dum. It was originally used as a strategic stopover for flights from North America and Europe to Indochina and Australia.
The airport is connected to the Kolkata Suburban Railway system's circular line branch, with the nearest stations being the Dum Dum Cantonment and Durganagar railway stations. It can also be reached by bus, taxi, rickshaw, or auto.
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