TIWN
AGARTALA, July 10 (TIWN): To enhance air connectivity in Agartala sector, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Thursday on the request of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju at New Delhi, said official.Governor during his meeting with Union Minister had detailed discussions with him regarding air connectivity at Agartala. He explained the necessity to have more flights between Agartala and rest of the country especially Kolkata considering the peculiar geographical position of the state. Governor Tathagata Roy on Thursday met with Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and requested him to consider upgrading Agartala airport to International Airport level, in view of the projected increase of traffic between Tripura and Bangladesh. However, in view of decline of air connectivity in Agartala sector, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar earlier meeting with Governor requested him to take up the matter with central government.As compared to year 2012, the air transportation has declined for last 2 years; the tendency remains same this year even after several persuasions to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. As a result hundreds of people flying to Kolkata and Delhi from Agartala and vice versa has been badly hit.Recently the Jet air company has withdrawn its flights from Tripura region and other parts of the North Eastern region except Guwahati.
According to the official record here during the year 2014 the figure of the total air passengers rested at 9 lakhs which increased compared to year 2013.
More than eight lakh people travel from Agartala to Guwahati, Imphal, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad every year. Air traffic has been heavy because of lack of other means of transport.
The Civil Aviation Ministry had refused to operate frequent flights here in this sector as the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) rested high, following which the state government had also lowered the tax by 4 per cent and rested at 18 per cent.
Despite the cut in tax, state has lost the tendency of frequent air travel from Agartala airport, planned to be extended and make international standard.
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