AGARTALA, April 16 (TIWN): Development of Agartala Airport likely to make North-East as the corridor of the South-East Asia. If Airports Authority of India (AAI) makes up development of the Agartala Airport on priority, as per details finalized in consultation with the State Government, the tourists from other States and foreign country will visit the State frequently in large throng. As a result the economy of the State will raise high in chart and represents Tripura in the world’s corner.

The necessary environmental clearance for this project may be accorded expeditiously. Inspite of that priority is also focused on the utmost point in the starting of the work for operational of Kailashahar Airport in Unakoti District and Kamalpur (Manikbhander) Airport, Dhalai District. It is to be mention that setting up of airport is the second primary point. Kailasahar aerodrome, located at Durgapur area under Kailasahar sub­division which was established in the 60th century with small aircraft service, now remains closed for past 09 years due to lack of passengers.

Now the airport is almost turned into an abandoned place. A team of Airport Authority of India (AAI) had visited the Kailashahar way back in 2011 with an effort to re­open the Kailashahar airport. But the airport is lying non­functional since several years. If Kailashahar airport is made operational, Unakoti district will have direct connectivity with Kolkata, Guwahati, South Assam and many other parts of the Northeastern region. It will also reduce pressure on Agartala airport. 

Agartala Airport which has the second largest air traffic in the region after Guwahati may be made an international airport along with required facilities on priority for convenience of passengers travelling between Agartala and Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh and other parts of South-East Asia.

It is to be mention that at present, Agartala has direct flights with Imphal, Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. However, the state government has been persuading AAI for air connectivity with Dhaka and other northeastern capitals and Tripura Government has allotted about 72 acres of land to Airports Authority of India (AAI) to facilitate the Rs 300-crore Agartala airport upgradation project.

Besides that, AAI has taken up an ambitious Rs 427 crore project to develop Agartala airport to an international standard. Also, a modern Air Traffic Control tower is being set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore,"