AGARTALA, November 29 (TIWN): The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India is likely to floor the tender of upgradation of Agartala Airport project within next 3 to 4 months said a highly placed source of secretariat. The Terminal building will be taken on the first phase of construction and the construction of Runway Street will be taken on the second phase.

Around 10.6 acres of land had been made available for the construction of the Terminal building during the first phase and 62 acres of land for the construction of runway during the second phase, the source added.  The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked the Agartala Airport authority to extend the runway to facilitate safe landing and taking off of big-size flights, official sources confirmed here today.

As per the AAI’s instructions, the length of the runway should be increased from 7500 to 8000 meters. If the runway is extended up to 8000 meters, big size planes including cargo flights could easily land and take off from the Agartala Airport, a official sources confirmed.

The Department of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) will provide the fund for it. But most importantly the Environmental Clearance report and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be submitted within a few months for the construction of the terminal building, the source added.

The AAI has been incurring a loss of Rs 9 crore every year from Agartala, which also prompted the aviation body to push for the modernization of the airport.

At least two hangers will be built for parking six Boeing aircrafts and four aerobridges with the extension provisions of two more would be added to the terminal building for passengers' safety and comfort.

The expansion of the airport will be complete within the next three years bringing about 500 acres of land under the new terminal building and run-way.

It is to be mentioned here that, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India asked for a total of 107 acres of land for the upgradation of the Agartala airport into an international airport. But on a meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar during the year 2013 at least 72 acres of land had been finalized, where 18 acres of land are under khash land and rest are under jyot land. Beside at least 157 families fell under the land acquisition and they had already been given their compensation as per the new Land Acquisition Act, the source further mentioned.  

The Agartala airport modernization project involves upgrading of the runway and aprons, construction of six aerobridges, three elevators and two escalators besides walkways to connect the international arrival and departure levels, the source mentioned.

The airports are being made international as part of India's "Look East" policy to boost the northeast region's connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia.

The Agartala airport would be the third international standard airport after the Guwahati and Imphal airports.  Imphal's Tulihal airport was recently declared as an international airport after its modernization.