Kolkata, April 27 (IANS): Infrastructure developer Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) on Monday said the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted aerodrome license to its upcoming airport project in Durgapur-Andal region in West Bengal.

"Having obtained this final approval from the authority of Indian civil aviation, the airport will now become India's first operational private greenfield airport under the country's Greenfield Airport Policy," the company said in a statement.

As per the company, the license clearance to the airport, christened Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (KNI Airport) was given on April 24.

"This aerodrome license will further influence the decision makers of the country's major airline operators, those which were already considering including KNI Airport as a promising location in their respective route planning maps. The country will soon witness the airport commercially operating and improving air connectivity across Bengal and pan-India," it said.

The 650-acre airport is the centrepiece of the Rs.10,000 crore, Aerotropolis, an ambitious township project in the Durgapur-Andal region, presently in the the developmental phase.

The company said this airport will promote the economic development of the Asansol-Durgapur region in Bengal by bettering the connectivity in that region.