The new terminal of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (MBB), Agartala is expected to start its operations in March next year.
Tripura Transport minister Pranajit Singha Roy told the media this while attending a programme at MBB airport premises on Wednesday. The programme was held for formal inauguration of Tripura Road Transport Corporation’s city bus service connecting MBB Airport with Agartala city area. Initially bus services at Airport- Nagerjala route. However, the bus service would soon be introduced in Airport to Akhuara ICP, Airport to Chandrapur Motorstand and Airport to Agartala Railway Station routes, the Minister said.
Speaking to media, the Transport Minister said , “The construction works of the new terminal of Agartala MBB airport will be completed at earliest and the new terminal, in all probability, will become operational in March 2021”. Singha Roy added, “There is possibility that Tripura will have direct air connectivity with Chittagong or Dhaka in Bangladesh after opening of the new terminal”.
Singha Roy who also holds Tourism portfolio said, “Tripura has immense potentiality for development of tourism sector. The State Government is accordingly taking steps to ensure passengers’ comfort and as part of this endeavour, bus services connecting Airport with other places of Agartala City has been inaugurated today”.
He also said that the state government was contemplating a plan to introduce five electric buses in the city for the convenience of regular commuters.
Referring to the newly-inaugurated bus service, he said as many as 18 flights make landing and take off at MBB Airport every day– the frequency stands at 36.
“If we count 100 passengers per flight, the tally comes at 3600. For smooth movement of such large number of passengers, the bus/auto service needs to be strengthened. Earlier, the public transport system had to suffer a lot during the tenure of previous government. I believe, the new bus service will cater the needs of the airport passengers to great extent,” the Transport minister said.
Meanwhile, MLA Dr. Dilip Das, TRTC Chairman Dipak Majumder, Director of MBB Airport Rajeev Kapoor and others were present in bus service flagging-off ceremony.