ProMASS News
Agartala, July 18, 2019: The new terminal building at MBB airport in Agartala is likely to be completed this year. Minister of State (IC) for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said this in Lok Sabha today.
Replying to a question placed by MP of West Tripura, Pratima Bhowmik, the Minister said, “The expected date for physical completion of the work of new airport terminal building coming up at Agartala is December 31, 2019 and likely date of commissioning for start of operations from new airport terminal building is March 31, 2020”.
Hardeep Singh Puri also said, before commissioning the new facility it requires full scale trials of heating, ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) System, conveyor belt etc. Moreover, obtaining approval from Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and shifting of airlines hardware-software systems etc to new location are also required.
Replying to two other questions placed by Bhowmik, the Minister said, Government has not taken any decision barring other airlines except Air India and Indigo Airlines to operate regular to and fro Delhi-Agartala flights.
On introducing new direct flight in Delhi-Agartala route, Puri said, after deregulation of Indian Aviation sector, airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of Route Dispersal Guidelines issued by Government.
In this connection the Minister also mentioned about Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN scheme on 21-10-2016 launched by the Civil Aviation sector. He informed the House, “RCS – UDAN is demand driven and development of regional air connectivity routes depends on the market forces wherein airlines undertake assessment of demand and supply required on a particular route and participate in the bidding held from time to time. In the third round of bidding under RCS-UDAN, Agartala-Aizawl-Agartala was awarded to M/s Indigo”.
