The Technical Services Agreement (TSA) was between CAI, an airports investor, operator and joint venture partner company and Bengal Aerotropolis Pvt Ltd (BAPL), the promoters of the project.

According to the agreement, CAI will review the masterplan of the airport and supervise the work. It will carry out a detailed review of the airport capacity, land use plan, passenger terminal and layout and development. It will also conduct training for the senior management of BAPL personnel at the Singapore Aviation Academy to familiarise them with the technical aspects of developing and managing an airport terminal.

The airport, which is a part of the Rs 10,000 crore-Durgapur Aerotropolis project spanning 650 acres of land, is likely to cost over Rs 500 crore.

According to the director of BAPL, Partha Ghosh, the process of land purchase through the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) has begun and the airport will come up within 30 months of the construction beginning. “Changi is coming in only as a technical collaborator today, but there is a possibility that they might take up the actual management of the airport,” said Ghosh. “This was a partnership that will evolve over time.”

Speaking on the occasion, the senior vice-president (worldwide operations), CAI, Eugene Gan, said: “We are very happy to be a part of this project and think we will be able to contribute to it meaningfully.”