The foreign exchange counter that was opened at Bagdogra on Thursday

Siliguri, Oct. 25: The Bagdogra Air Force Station authorities have given tacit approval to the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and approach lights at the airport to enable night landing of commercial aircraft.

So far, airlines could not operate regular passenger flights to and from Bagdogra after dusk because the Indian Air Force, which runs the airfield, had not given the go-ahead mainly due to lack of proper infrastructure. It was only under special circumstances, like unforeseen delays, that permission was given to civil aircraft to take off and land after 5pm.

At a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Bagdogra air base station commander, Group Captain Chandramouli, yesterday, specifications were sought from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) representatives, led by airport director K.K. Bhaumik, about land for the setting up of the system.

The ILS is a ground-based system, which provides precise guidance to an aircraft approaching a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays. It enables safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), such as low cloud ceiling or reduced visibility because of fog or rain.

“This technical navigational equipment is an additional aid for landing, like giving a car more powerful headlights, which will contribute to increased safety, especially when there is not enough natural light to see the runway,” Chandramouli explained.

Over the next two days, air force personnel will be measuring and marking the areas where the system and lights will be set up at both ends of the runway. “We will then send our recommendations to Eastern Air Command in Shillong for final approval,” the station commander said.

Bhaumik said once the green signal comes, the AAI will start the installation work in a month. It will be complete in six months’ time. “The system and the lights would cost around Rs 1 crore,” he said.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel had said on October 11 that international flights would operate from the airport by 2008.

A foreign exchange counter was opened at the airport today. It will be operated by Centrum Direct Ltd, which has similar counters in Mumbai and Mangalore.

“Bagdogra airport handled 25,000 foreign tourists last year, and this is expected to increase by 30 to 40 per cent next year,” said Centrum executive director Guru Prasad. “These tourists can now exchange their currencies at the airport itself before proceeding to their destinations.”

In another development, Deccan has rescheduled its afternoon flight to Calcutta from October 28. DN 776 will now leave Bagdogra for Calcutta at 10am, after the corresponding flight arrives at 9.30am.