Tourism and Transport Minister of Tripura, Sushanta Chowdhury said a new airport would be coming up in Kailasahar, the headquarters of Unakoti district in Tripura.
This initiative is being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority of India, with the goal of revamping the currently abandoned Kailasahar airport.
Minister Sushanta Chowdhury visited the non-operational airport, which was shut down in the mid-1990s due to space constraints. Accompanied by several officials, including Kailasahar MLA Brijit Sinha and former MLA Mobashwar Ali, the Minister assessed the site’s potential for redevelopment during his visit on Tuesday.
Addressing the media after the visit, Chowdhury highlighted that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, through the UDAN regional connectivity scheme (RCS), is actively working on reopening and upgrading various defunct airports across the country. He commended the BJP-led government in Tripura, led by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, and the support received from the central government for their efforts in enhancing communication systems and promoting overall development in the state.
The proposed reopening of the Kailasahar airport will be executed in two phases.
In the first phase, the existing airport will be renovated, and a seventeen- or twenty-seater aircraft will be introduced to facilitate air travel between Kailasahar, Kolkata, and Agartala. If all goes as planned, these flights are expected to begin operating by the end of this year.
The second phase of the project will involve extending the airport’s runway by acquiring additional land, a process that may take some time to complete. The Minister reassured that the expansion will be carried out progressively.
Regarding funding, the central government has pledged to release funds for the airport project once a Memorandum of Understanding is signed, detailing the land transfer to the central authorities.
While the runway extension faces some challenges as there is Manu River flowing on the south side of the airport, the acquisition of land on the north side will facilitate the expansion.
The Minister expressed optimism that the revitalization of the Kailasahar airport will have a positive impact on the region’s tourism industry, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to the overall economic development of the area and the state as a whole.
The commencement of the runway extension work will begin shortly after acquiring 700 meters of land in the northern part of the airport and relocating 22 affected families. Additionally, 70 meters of land on the western side of the airport will be used for constructing airport authority offices, a car parking zone, and boundary walls.