Ashoknagar Airfield

Military demobilization and abandonment following the end of World War II. The airfield was constructed as a temporary forward base for the Burma Campaign and was deemed redundant after the Allied victory and the subsequent withdrawal of forces from the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater.

The airfield is completely defunct. The original land has been largely reclaimed for other uses. While the faint outline of the main runway can still be traced via satellite imagery, it is fragmented, overgrown with vegetation, and partially converted into local roads. The area is now a mix of agricultural land (paddy fields), small settlements, and various government facilities, including a state-run poultry farm and other administrative buildings. Significant portions of the original airfield site have been encroached upon over the decades.

The airfield, historically known as Baigachi Airfield, was a significant strategic base for the Allied forces during World War II. It was primarily used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Tenth Air Force and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Its most notable role was hosting the 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) of the XX Bomber Command. From this base, the group operated B-29 Superfortress bombers on long-range strategic bombing missions against Japanese infrastructure and military targets in Burma, Thailand, and French Indochina between October 1944 and May 1945. The airfield also supported transport operations, with units like the 1st Combat Cargo Group flying C-47 Skytrain and C-46 Commando aircraft to supply troops and materials for the campaign in Burma.

There are currently no active or official plans to reopen the Ashoknagar/Baigachi Airfield. The West Bengal state government has sporadically explored the possibility of developing it into a second airport for the Kolkata metropolitan region or an aviation hub in the past (notably around 2011-2012). However, these proposals have never materialized due to major obstacles, including the high cost of acquiring and clearing the heavily encroached land, the presence of existing structures, and the logistical challenges of redevelopment. The focus for airport expansion in the region has since shifted to other locations.