AGARTALA, May 4 (TIWN): Lack of governmental intervention has ruined the upgradation work of the Kailasahar airport under Unakoti District. The District Magistarte and Collector (DM) Mrinal Kanti Nath has recently send a proposal to the state transport department in regard of the acquisition of 70 acres of land.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 many years due to lack of maintenance, staffing, and others. However talking to TIWN in regard of upgradation of the airport, an official source said, “Recently the Kailasahar DM has submitted the Direct project Report (DPR) with the state transport department". It has been learnt that the official had also send a proposal with the department regarding acquisition of 70 acres of land for the upgradation work. The official source said that the DPR along with the design will shortly be place before an Airport Authority of India (AAI) board for approval of design and finance. Finally, it will go to ministry of environment and forest for green clearance, said source.It is worthy to be mentioned here that earlier the then DM of Unakoti District had also send a proposal to the state govt. in regard of land acquisition, but no development was brought yet today as a result the present DM had again send a proposal to the transport department.

State Transport Department has not acquired the land hitherto. Besides, many a time strike was called by a section of people and political parties and organizations demanding for the upgradation of Kailasahar airport.

Now the airport is almost turned into an abandoned place. A team of AirportAuthority of India (AAI) had visited the Kailasahar way back in 2011 with an effort to re­open the Kailasahar airport. But the airport is lying non­functional since several years.

If Kailasahar 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.

However, besides with another delay by the AAI the upgradation work of the Agartala airport has remained ruin for the past many months. The state govt. has been pushing the AAI to engage staffs in the work, but even the environmental clearance report has not yet come up yet today despite the state govt. has already moved with their work.