BAGDOGRA, : Bagdogra residents and local social organizations on Thursday came forward to oppose the proposed name change of Bagdogra Airport.
The controversy erupted after former CII chairman Sanjay Tibrewal was quoted in a vernacular newspaper demanding the name change of Bagdogra airport into Siliguri Airport. He said that CII North Bengal zone will send the proposal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the name change.
Adding to that, the certain business groups from Siliguri under the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) have raised concerns that the airport's current name was causing confusion for travellers unfamiliar with the region. They argued that many visitors were unsure whether the airport was located in Siliguri or elsewhere.
Muktomona, a non-government an organisation of Bagdogra, said the local public not support “at any cost” the name change.
The organization’s general secretary, Jayanta Tarak Dey, pointed out that the airport has been associated with Bagdogra since its establishment in 1962 under the Bagdogra Air Force Camp. “The name Bagdogra has a legacy tied to the local people and we believe that it should not be changed. If a change is absolutely necessary, Bagdogra should remain part of the name,” Dey said.
Whereas, Rajbonshi community on Thursday told the press at Siliguri Journalist Club that Bagdogra is a Kamtapuri word meaning “Tiger Roars” and demanded not to change the name and if plans to change proposed to name after Vishwaveer Chilarai from Koch dynasty who ruled the region during 16th Century.
Vishwaveer Chilrai is the younger brother of King Narnarayan who headed the Koch Army.
Meanwhile members of Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN) have proposed that the airport be named after legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay and poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Samrat Sanyal, general secretary of HHTDN, said that it would be appropriate if the airport is named after India’s pride, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore or mountaineer Tenzing Norgay.
Bagdogra Army veteran T. K. Shrestha feels that there was no need to change the name of the airport at all. “Us, being locals, it would suit us perfectly if it is called Bagdogra International Airport,” he said.
Echoing his views, another resident Anand Pradhan said: “We all residents of Bagdogra want it to be named as Bagdogra International Airport.”
Pradhan further asked why the name of the airport which has been known by the name of its place of location since its inception as an Air Force station way back in 1962 should be rechristened now. “It is about the sentiments of all us Bagdogra residents,” he said.
Yet another resident had this to offer on the proposed renaming of the airport: “Whether the airport is called Rabindranath Tagore or Tenzing Norgay or for that matter even Siliguri, we have no issues. However, the name Bagdogra should always feature in the name of the airport.”