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Hasimara is a town in Alipurduar district of West Bengal state, India near the border with Bhutan, in the eastern Sivalik Hills. It is located at 26° 45' N latitude and 89° 21' E longitude at an altitude of 109 metres above sea level and has a population of about 40,000 (2001 census).

Key Information

Geography

[edit]
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
8km
5miles
A
S
S
A
M
B
H
U
T
A
N
R
Madhu TG
R Madhu Tea Garden (R)
R Madhu Tea Garden (R)
`
Buxa Hill Forest
_
Raydak
Forest
^
Chikjora River
]
Raydak River
\
Sakos River
[
Jayanti River
Z
Dima River
Y
Kaljani River
X
Torsha River
NP
Chilapata
Forest
NP Chilapata Forests (NP)
NP Chilapata Forests (NP)
NP
Buxa
Tiger
Reserve
NP Buxa Tiger Reserve (NP)
NP Buxa Tiger Reserve (NP)
H
Buxa Fort
H Buxa Fort (H)
H Buxa Fort (H)
TE
Sankos TE
TE Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates (TE)
TE Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates (TE)
TE
Kumargram TE
TE Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates (TE)
TE Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates (TE)
R
Uttar Mandabari
R Uttar Mandabari (R)
R Uttar Mandabari (R)
R
Raimatang
R Raimatang (R)
R Raimatang (R)
R
Rajabhatkhawa
R Rajabhatkhawa (R)
R Rajabhatkhawa (R)
R
Kumargram
R Kumargram, Alipurduar (R)
R Kumargram, Alipurduar (R)
R
Jayanti
R Jayanti, Alipurduar (R)
R Jayanti, Alipurduar (R)
R
Jashodanga
R Jashodanga (R)
R Jashodanga (R)
R
Kalchini
R Kalchini, Alipurduar (R)
R Kalchini, Alipurduar (R)
M
Alipurduar
M Alipurduar (M)
M Alipurduar (M)
A
Hasimara
CT
Uttar Satali
CT Uttar Satali (CT)
CT Uttar Satali (CT)
CT
Dakshin Rampur
CT Dakshin Rampur (CT)
CT Dakshin Rampur (CT)
CT
Uttar Latabari
CT Uttar Latabari (CT)
CT Uttar Latabari (CT)
CT
Uttar Kamakhyaguri
CT Uttar Kamakhyaguri (CT)
CT Uttar Kamakhyaguri (CT)
CT
Sobhaganj
CT Sobhaganj (CT)
CT Sobhaganj (CT)
CT
Samuktala
CT Samuktala (CT)
CT Samuktala (CT)
CT
Mechiabasti
CT Mechiabasti (CT)
CT Mechiabasti (CT)
CT
Laskarpara
CT Laskarpara (CT)
CT Laskarpara (CT)
CT
Jaigaon
CT Jaigaon (CT)
CT Jaigaon (CT)
Places and tea estates in the eastern portion of Alipurdar subdivision (including Kalchini, Kumargram and Alipuduar II CD blocks) in Alipurduar district
CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, A: Air Force Station, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate, H: historical site
Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

[edit]

The town is located in the central Dooars region of the district and is surrounded by tea gardens. The town also lies on the way to Phuentsholing, the gateway to Bhutan, and the border is just about 17 km away.

Hasimara is located at 26°45′N 89°21′E / 26.75°N 89.35°E / 26.75; 89.35. It has an average elevation of 109 metres (358 feet). Hasimara lies between two rivers running from north to south, draining from the lower Himalayas in Bhutan. Torsa on the west and Basra on the east, both offer picnic spots; though Basra is not frequented on account of a cremation ground next to the road-rail bridge on the west banks of the river. Both rivers are perennial; they don't flood in the monsoon season but can be quite ferocious when in spate. This small hamlet lies at the cross-roads between Alipurduar, Cooch-Behar, Alipurduar, and Phuentsholing (gateway to Bhutan). Phuentsholing is accessed through Jaigaon, the border town. Hamilton-Ganj is another small settlement on the railway line to Alipurduar, about 10 km away, across river Basra. The road traverses through some of the most pristine tropical monsoon forests.

Area overview

[edit]

Alipurduar district is covered by two maps. It is an extensive area in the eastern end of the Dooars in West Bengal. It is undulating country, largely forested, with numerous rivers flowing down from the outer ranges of the Himalayas in Bhutan. It is a predominantly rural area with 79.38% of the population living in the rural areas. The district has 1 municipal town and 20 census towns; 20.62% of the population lives in the urban areas. The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, taken together, form more than half the population in all the six community development blocks in the district. There is a high concentration of tribal people (scheduled tribes) in the three northern blocks of the district.[1][2][3]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Transport

[edit]

Railway

[edit]

The town is served by the Hasimara Railway Station (Code: HSA) that lies on the New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line. This railway line was metre gauge and converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 2003.

Roadways

[edit]

Frequent taxis and service Jeeps are available from Hasimara to Siliguri, Jaigaon, Birpara, Malbazar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Mainaguri, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Gorubathan, Dhupguri and Phuntsholing,Bhutan. Bus services are available from the town to P.C. Mittal Memorial Bus Terminus, Siliguri. Apart from it frequent buses connects Hasimara with Alipurduar, Jaigaon, Malbazar, Birpara, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Falakata, Phuntsholing, Bhutan etc.

Hasimara Air Force Station

[edit]

Hasimara Air Force Station is an airbase of Indian Air Force where 101 Squadron housing Rafale Fighter Jets is based. The airbase is not open to civilian flights. The nearest civilian airport is Bagdogra Airport just west of Siliguri. (Incidentally Bagdogra is also an airbase of Indian Air Force but IAF allows civilian flights at Bagdogra.)

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hasimara

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from Grokipedia
Hasimara is a small town in the of , , located in the central region near the international border with . Nestled amid lush gardens, forests, and the rivers Torsa and , the town sits at an elevation of approximately 110 meters above and serves as a vital transit hub for travelers and traders heading to . It is strategically positioned about 126 kilometers from and 20 kilometers from Phuentsholing, Bhutan's primary border town, making Hasimara railway station the nearest rail link to , as the kingdom lacks its own railway network. The town's significance extends to its role as an elephant corridor connecting the to the west and the to the east, supporting biodiversity in the eastern Himalayan foothills. Nearby attractions include the Chilapata Forest, approximately 15 kilometers to the south, known for its wildlife and historical ruins, as well as various local temples dedicated to , , and . Hasimara is also home to the , a key installation of the under the Eastern Air Command, established on April 7, 1963, following the 1962 to bolster regional defense. The base, located near the and Jaldapara Sanctuary, provides air defense coverage over a broad corridor spanning from to and , with capabilities extending into parts of . Over the decades, it has hosted various aircraft squadrons, evolving from early Toofani and Hunter jets to modern platforms, underscoring its ongoing strategic importance in India's northeastern security framework.

Geography

Location

Hasimara is a situated in the Kalchini of , , . The town is positioned at coordinates 26°45′N 89°21′E, with an of 109 meters above . It lies approximately 17 km from Phuentsholing, serving as a key gateway to . Hasimara is bordered by the Torsa River to the west and the Basra River to the east, and it occupies a location within the eastern . The area is enclosed by extensive tea gardens and forests characteristic of the central region.

Climate and environment

Hasimara experiences a (Köppen classification Cwa), characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons influenced by its location in the . The region receives high annual rainfall averaging 3,000 to 4,000 mm, with about 80% occurring during the period from June to September, driven by southwest winds from the . Temperatures typically range from highs of up to 35°C in summer (March to May) to lows of around 10°C in winter (December to ), with moderate persisting year-round. The environmental landscape of Hasimara features riverside areas along the Torsa River to the west and the Basra River to the east, both originating from and providing scenic spots amid the subtropical terrain. Dense sal-dominated forests cover much of the surrounding region, forming wildlife corridors that connect Hasimara to nearby protected areas such as , facilitating animal movement across habitats. Biodiversity in and around Hasimara includes significant populations of Asian elephants and leopards in adjacent forests and reserves, alongside over 200 bird species such as the and . Tea plantations, which dominate the local economy, have impacted native flora by causing and altering ecosystems through the clearance of original jungle cover for cultivation.

History

Early settlement and colonial era

The region encompassing Hasimara, located in the tract of present-day , was historically part of the territories influenced by the Koch kingdom, which emerged in the in the broader Tista-Brahmaputra valley bordering and . This area served as a zone with sparse settlements, primarily inhabited by indigenous Indo-Mongoloid communities such as the Koch-Rajbanshis, who practiced settled agriculture, and smaller tribal groups including the Toto, Mech, Rabha, and Garo, who engaged in and forest-based livelihoods. These communities maintained a symbiotic relationship with the dense subtropical forests and riverine ecosystems of the , with the Rajbanshis forming the dominant agrarian population in pre-colonial . The colonial era transformed Hasimara and the surrounding through British expansion following the of 1864-1865. Under the Treaty of Sinchula signed on November 11, 1865, the British East India Company annexed the Western , including the Hasimara area, from Bhutanese control, marking the end of Bhutanese and opening the fertile alluvial plains to commercial exploitation. This annexation facilitated the rapid establishment of plantations across the starting in the late , as the British recognized the region's suitability for cultivation due to its warm, humid climate and rich soil. The first commercial gardens in the were planted around , with the industry expanding swiftly thereafter through land grants to European planters. Hasimara emerged as a key hub during this period, with the Hasimara developing as one of the early estates in the sub-division by the late 19th to early . To sustain this labor-intensive enterprise, British authorities recruited migrant workers en masse from the tribal belts of , including Chhotanagpur, Santhal Parganas, and regions in present-day and , where communities faced economic distress and land alienation. These laborers, often transported under coercive systems, formed the backbone of the tea workforce, altering the demographic fabric of Hasimara and introducing new amid the colonial .

Post-independence development

Following India's in , Hasimara, located in the region, was integrated into the newly formed state of following the partition of the , with the area falling under . This administrative alignment facilitated the region's incorporation into national governance structures, emphasizing agricultural and border-related development. Hasimara remained within for decades, benefiting from state-level policies aimed at integrating frontier areas, until June 25, 2014, when was carved out from through the Legislative Assembly's 20th amendment, addressing geographical isolation, developmental disparities, and population pressures in the southern . This bifurcation elevated Hasimara's local administrative focus, placing it in Kalchini block of the new district and enhancing targeted infrastructure planning. Key infrastructural milestones post-independence included the expansion of the tea industry in the 1950s and 1960s, driven by national initiatives to increase production and export earnings in the region, where Hasimara's estates contributed to the area's role as a major tea-producing hub. Railway connectivity was established in the 1960s through the extension of the New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar metre-gauge line to Hasimara, enabling efficient transport of goods and passengers, which spurred economic integration with broader networks. Additionally, Hasimara's proximity to the border, approximately 17 km from Phuentsholing via , fostered growth through cross-border trade routes, positioning the town as a vital node for bilateral in commodities like timber and agricultural products. The significantly influenced Hasimara's development, prompting the establishment of a military presence to secure the northeastern frontier, including the activation of an station in the early as a strategic response to heightened border tensions. This military footprint, combined with ongoing tea estate operations, drove population influx as employment opportunities in plantations and bases attracted migrant laborers from across , particularly from and , contributing to demographic shifts in the . By the late , these factors had transformed Hasimara from a peripheral settlement into a bustling transit and employment center.

Demographics

Population statistics

According to the , Hasimara had a of approximately 40,000. Based on district-level trends in , where the grew from part of the larger district's 3,401,173 in to 1,501,983 in , Hasimara's is estimated to have increased to around 50,000–60,000 by the . Hasimara exhibits a rural-urban mix, with 70–80% of its residing in rural areas, consistent with the district's 79% rural composition as per the (rural : 1,183,704; urban : 307,456). The literacy rate in Hasimara was around 70% in , higher than the then-Jalpaiguri district average of 62.9%, and recent estimates suggest further improvement aligned with the district's 77.32% literacy rate in . Population growth in Hasimara has been driven by migration for tea labor in the surrounding tea gardens and employment opportunities at the . The is approximately 950 females per 1,000 males, reflecting the district average of 948 from the 2011 census.

Ethnic composition and culture

Hasimara's ethnic composition reflects the broader diversity of the region, with forming the predominant group based on linguistic and religious indicators from the surrounding . Other significant communities include , who contribute to the area's multicultural fabric through their Gorkha heritage, and Rajbanshis, an indigenous group native to northern Bengal known for their agrarian traditions. Adivasi populations, primarily tribal migrants from and such as the Santhals and Oraons, make up a notable portion, often residing in tea garden worker settlements. Small Bhutanese-influenced communities, including Dukpa and groups, add to the ethnic mosaic due to the town's proximity to the border. The of Hasimara is multilingual, mirroring its ethnic diversity. Bengali serves as the and is spoken by the majority, facilitating daily communication and administration. and Nepali are widely used among migrant and border communities, while , a associated with groups, is prevalent in tribal households. English is commonly employed in installations and contexts, given Hasimara's strategic importance. Cultural life in Hasimara blends Hindu, tribal, and Indo-Bhutanese traditions, evident in its festivals and . Durga Puja, a grand Bengali Hindu celebration featuring elaborate pandals and rituals, draws community participation, while , influenced by Assamese and Nepali customs, marks the agricultural cycle with vibrant dances and feasts. Traditional tea garden folk music, including jhumur songs accompanied by the instrument, and dances like the energetic bagroomba performed by groups, highlight the labor and rhythms of plantation life. Local cuisine draws from tribal customs, emphasizing rice-based dishes such as fermented rice paired with river fish curries, often seasoned with bamboo shoots and wild herbs foraged from nearby forests.

Economy

Tea industry

The tea industry serves as the cornerstone of Hasimara's economy, embedded within the broader region of , which, together with the adjacent area, accounted for about 30% of India's total production—approximately 421 million kilograms in 2023–24. Prominent local estates, such as the Satali Tea Estate operated by Hasimara Industries Limited, exemplify this sector's scale, encompassing a total grant area of 1,061.15 hectares, of which 894.15 hectares are dedicated to cultivation. These plantations primarily grow the var. assamica variety, suited to the region's subtropical climate, yielding robust black teas processed mainly through the (CTC) method for domestic and international markets. Tea production in Hasimara follows a labor-intensive cycle beginning with selective hand-plucking of during peak seasons from to , followed by stages of withering, orthodox rolling or CTC processing, oxidation, and drying in on-site . The Satali Tea Estate, for example, maintains an installed capacity of 2.2 million kilograms per year, with actual output ranging from 1.71 to 1.96 million kilograms between fiscal years 2017 and 2021. Across Hasimara's multiple tea gardens, the sector generates substantial employment, with the and regions supporting around 350,000 workers in approximately 283 estates, many of whom are involved in plucking, , and factory operations. This workforce, predominantly comprising , Nepali, and local communities, underscores the industry's role in sustaining rural livelihoods. Despite its vitality, the tea sector in Hasimara grapples with persistent challenges, including labor issues such as low wages, exploitative practices, and occasional estate closures that displace hundreds of workers, as seen in recent shutdowns affecting over 2,000 employees across three gardens. exacerbates these pressures through erratic monsoons, floods, and rising temperatures that diminish yields and quality in North Bengal's gardens. In adaptation efforts, select estates have transitioned to to address dependency and appeal to global demand, with certified operations like Putharjhora producing 400,000 kilograms annually using sustainable methods since 1997. Exports from the region, including to neighboring via proximity to trade routes and to European markets as part of India's broader shipments, further bolster economic resilience.

Tourism and other sectors

Hasimara serves as a key gateway for tourists heading to , located approximately 20 kilometers away, where visitors can participate in rhino safaris via elephant or jeep rides amid grasslands and riverine forests. The town also provides access to , about 50 kilometers north, known for its dense sal forests and trekking routes to sites like , as well as proximity to the border at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing, facilitating day trips or extended journeys into the Himalayan kingdom. Local attractions include guided tours through surrounding tea gardens, offering scenic walks amid rolling hills, and river picnics along the Torsa River, where eco-lodges provide sustainable stays with amenities like bonfire dining and nature trails. Jaldapara alone recorded around 300,000 footfalls yearly as of 2023 through its safaris, contributing significantly to the local economy via entry fees and related services. attracts an average of 58,000 tourists annually, many passing through Hasimara en route. Peak season runs from October to March, when cooler weather enhances wildlife sightings and outdoor activities, though the parks close during the from mid-June to mid-September and reopened in September 2025 following flood disruptions. Beyond tourism, Hasimara's economy includes regulated timber extraction from adjacent forests under West Bengal's rules, which govern sawmills and wood-based industries to ensure sustainable harvesting in protected areas like Buxa. Cross-border trade with , facilitated by the nearby entry point, involves goods like agricultural products and consumer items. Small-scale hospitality supports eco-lodges and guesthouses catering to transit visitors, while local handicrafts, including weaves and tribal artifacts, provide supplementary income through sales at markets near the parks.

Transport

Railways

Hasimara Railway Station, identified by the code HSA, serves the town of Hasimara in , , and lies on the New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line under the . The station features two platforms and handles approximately 20 halting trains, facilitating regional connectivity at an elevation of 123 meters. The New ––Samuktala Road line originated as a metre-gauge network developed by the Bengal Dooars Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily to support the transport of tea from British plantations in the region. Construction of key sections occurred between 1894 and 1915, integrating the line with broader colonial railway efforts to export commodities like tea to ports via connections to the East Bengal Railway. The metre-gauge infrastructure was later absorbed into post-independence, with broad-gauge conversion of the full line from New to and beyond completed between 2003 and 2004 as part of nationwide unification projects. Rail services at Hasimara include daily connections to Junction, covering 126 kilometers in about 3 hours via trains such as the Mahananda Express (15483). Longer routes extend to , with multiple daily options like the Kyq Capital Express (13248), while proximity to the India-Bhutan border at supports cross-border passenger movement for and . These services play a vital role in transporting from estates and accommodating tourists bound for sanctuaries and border areas. As of 2025, electrification efforts along the line remain ongoing under the Northeast Frontier Railway's modernization drive, with over 90 percent of the zone's network electrified and full completion targeted by 2026 to enable electric traction for key passenger and freight operations.

Roadways

Hasimara is well-connected by roadways, serving as a key transit point in the region of . The primary arterial route is National Highway 317A (NH 317A), part of Asian Highway 48 (AH-48), which links Hasimara directly to at the border, approximately 19 km away, facilitating cross-border movement of goods and passengers. Further westward, National Highway 317 (NH 317) extends connectivity toward , about 126 km distant via a combination of NH 317, NH 27, and associated link roads, enabling access to northern 's trade hubs. State highways and district roads also connect Hasimara to Alipurduar, roughly 35 km north, supporting local commerce in the tea-rich . Local transport in and around Hasimara relies on a mix of , shared jeeps, and buses, which operate frequently along these routes to serve nearby tea estates, wildlife parks like Jaldapara, and residential areas. These modes are particularly vital for short-distance travel within the town's semi-rural landscape, where public buses run hourly services to key destinations, accommodating both residents and visitors. conditions have seen notable improvements since the , driven by enhanced and paving efforts to handle increased vehicular traffic from regional economic activities. Recent developments emphasize upgrading infrastructure to support border trade with Bhutan, including the widening of the Hasimara-Jaigaon segment of NH 317A to a two-lane standard with paved shoulders over 14.4 km, as part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Program. This includes the construction of a 3.55 km Hasimara bypass to alleviate congestion, geometric enhancements at curves, and the addition of safety features like crash barriers and signage, all aimed at accommodating heavier vehicles and boosting trade efficiency. Ongoing projects, such as the 46 km Hasimara-Salsalabari upgrade under the former NH 31C (now integrated into the AH-48 network), have further improved resilience and capacity, contributing to rising traffic from Bhutanese traders and tourists. Roads also provide essential access to the Hasimara railway station for multimodal travel.

Government and infrastructure

Administration and facilities

Hasimara falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Kalchini within the Alipurduar subdivision of , . The block is overseen by a Block Development Officer, currently Shri Mithun Majumdar, who coordinates development activities across the region. Rural governance in Hasimara is primarily managed through s, such as the Malangi , which handle local issues like land distribution and community welfare under the system. Law and order are maintained by the Kalchini , while broader oversight, including sub-divisional administration, is provided by the office in town. Utilities in Hasimara are essential for supporting its tea-dependent economy and resident population. Electricity is supplied by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) through its division, with infrastructure including 33/11 kV substations serving the Kalchini block; power sources include contributions from regional hydroelectric projects in northern , such as those on the Jaldhaka River. Water supply is managed by the Engineering Department (PHED), drawing primarily from nearby rivers like the Torsa, though challenges persist due to issues, including iron content and in sources across Kalchini block. Waste management is closely tied to the area's tea estates, where estate authorities handle organic waste through methods like composting, while municipal collection in non-estate areas is coordinated at the block level to address pollution concerns from industrial activities. Basic civic facilities support daily needs in Hasimara, with the Hasimara Sub (PIN code 735215) providing postal services to the locality and surrounding tea gardens. Banking options include branches of the , such as the Hasimara branch (IFSC: SBIN0001447) and the Air Force Station branch, facilitating financial transactions for residents and military personnel. Local markets, including weekly haats and daily bazaars near the town center, offer essentials like groceries and household goods, serving the community's predominantly rural and estate-based population.

Education and healthcare

Hasimara's educational landscape is anchored by several key institutions serving the local population, particularly those in tea estates and nearby villages. The Hasimara High School, established in 1950 and managed by the Department of Education, Government of West Bengal, is a prominent government-aided co-educational institution affiliated with the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, offering classes from V to XII with an enrollment of approximately 1,236 students. Complementing this are other significant schools, including the Hasimara Hindi High School (established 1976), which serves around 2,494 students up to higher secondary levels, and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Hasimara, a CBSE-affiliated school with about 1,155 students from classes I to XII. The Air Force School Hasimara, also CBSE-affiliated and established in 1969, caters to grades I through XII for children in the area. Collectively, these schools serve over 5,000 students, reflecting a post-2000s push toward higher literacy in Alipurduar district, where rates have risen to around 78% through targeted initiatives emphasizing girls' education and access in rural settings. For higher education, residents rely on nearby institutions in Alipurduar, approximately 35 km away, such as Alipurduar College and Alipurduar University, which offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in arts, science, and commerce. Vocational training is integrated into the curriculum at schools like Hasimara High School, with programs under the West Bengal State Council for Vocational Education and Skill Development focusing on skills relevant to the local economy, including basic tea processing techniques for estate workers. Healthcare services in Hasimara are primarily provided through basic facilities tailored to the town's rural and tea estate population. A operates in the nearby Shilbarihat area, offering essential outpatient services, maternal care, and for local residents. Dispensaries are commonly available within tea estates, staffed by basic medical personnel to address routine ailments among workers, as mandated under labor regulations for plantations in . The nearest full-service hospital is in , about 35 km away, providing advanced care for emergencies and requiring approximately 30-40 minutes by road. Common health challenges include vector-borne diseases like , exacerbated by the surrounding forested terrain that supports mosquito breeding; recent data from reports over 370 malaria cases as of November 2025, with historical outbreaks linked to seasonal flooding and proximity to forests.

Military installations

Hasimara Air Force Station

Hasimara Air Force Station was established in the aftermath of the 1962 , utilizing a former private airstrip that had been operated by Jam Air and Kalinga Air for Dakota aircraft operations. The base became operational on April 7, 1963, when an Caribou aircraft landed there, marking the beginning of its role as a key military installation in West Bengal's sub-Himalayan region. It completed 50 years of operational service in April 2013, having evolved from rudimentary jungle conditions into a modern fighter base. The station serves as the home base for No. 101 Squadron, known as the "Falcons of Chhamb," which was reformed and equipped with multirole fighter jets in July 2021. This squadron, part of the Eastern Air Command, focuses on air defense and operational missions in the eastern sector. Previously, the base hosted units such as No. 22 Squadron with fighters for ground attack roles, reflecting its historical adaptation to various types. Facilities at Hasimara include a 2,740-meter (approximately 9,000 feet) suitable for heavy fighter jets like the Rafale and , along with dedicated hangars for aircraft maintenance and storage. As a restricted installation, it permits no access, with the nearest airport being , approximately 140 kilometers away. The base's proximity to international borders underscores its strategic importance for regional air operations.

Strategic significance

Hasimara Air Force Station holds critical geopolitical importance due to its location in , , overlooking the —commonly known as the "Chicken's Neck"—a narrow 22-kilometer-wide strip of land that connects mainland to its northeastern states and serves as a vital lifeline for , , and connectivity to , , and . This positioning allows the base to monitor activities along the sensitive - and - borders, particularly near the tri-junction, providing early warning and rapid response capabilities against potential incursions from . As a under the Eastern Air Command, it plays a pivotal role in deterring regional threats and maintaining air sovereignty in the eastern sector, counterbalancing Chinese military build-ups in , including airbases near approximately 300 kilometers away. The station's operational significance has been amplified by the deployment of Rafale fighter jets from No. 101 Squadron, inducted in July 2021, which enhance 's air superiority and multi-role capabilities for intercepting threats and conducting precision strikes in the eastern theater. These deployments were accelerated in response to the 2020 clashes, where heightened Sino-n tensions prompted to fortify its eastern defenses, including rapid upgrades at Hasimara to support sustained operations against Chinese J-20 fighters and other assets. The base also facilitates joint military exercises and coordination with Bhutanese forces under bilateral defense agreements, strengthening and regional stability amid ongoing border disputes between and . Beyond security, the station contributes to while influencing local dynamics; it employs over 1,000 military and support personnel, generating indirect jobs in logistics, maintenance, and services that stimulate the regional economy in and surrounding areas. However, its proximity to ecologically sensitive zones, including , raises environmental concerns related to aircraft noise and low-level flights potentially disturbing wildlife habitats and contributing to in the Dooars forests.

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