‘This was much needed’: Kolkata airport opens long-awaited washroom at Upper Arrival level

The new washroom block at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport fixes a 13-year-old design oversight that had caused persistent inconvenience to arriving passengers.

In a major relief for arriving passengers, a new washroom block has been opened at the Upper Arrival level of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata—right where travellers step into the terminal from the aerobridge.

The facility, which became operational on Monday, is the first of three planned washroom blocks on this level. Airport authorities said the remaining two are under construction and are expected to be ready within the next few months.

For over a decade since the terminal was commissioned, passengers arriving in Kolkata had to walk the length of the Upper Arrival area and descend to the Lower Arrival level to access washrooms. Even then, they often had to cross the baggage belts before finding one—an inconvenience that stood out, especially when compared with other major airports where washrooms are located immediately near aerobridges.

The new washroom block corrects this long-standing design ‘oversight’. Now, as soon as passengers disembark, they have access to separate facilities for men, women, and the differently abled, eliminating the need for a hurried search after landing.

“This facility was much needed and is extremely convenient,” said Arvind Mehta, a frequent traveller from Ahmedabad. “As soon as the pilot announces landing, people start lining up for the aircraft toilets. The crew often closes them around 20 minutes before landing for safety, and it becomes particularly difficult for elderly passengers to wait.”

Frequent flyer Rashmi Jha echoed the sentiment. “After a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Delhi, those final 15 minutes felt incredibly long,” she said.

According to airport sources, the two additional washroom blocks—currently under construction—are expected to be completed by April. Once operational, they will serve passengers arriving at 11 Upper Arrival gates (Gates 14 to 25), significantly improving comfort and passenger experience at the terminal.