AGARTALA / KAILASHAHAR, September 8 (TIWN): Kailashahar Airport which once started operation with full enthu in 1991 by Tripura govt., now left in a deplorable condition due to the negligence of State Govt. and dispute over the investment sharing between Central and State Govts. Many political parties and organizations demanded for renovation of this airport since decades, but failed to bring any positive effect. If this Airport gets operational, Dhalai and North Tripura’s people can get relief for Air transportation to Agartala. The issue was raised many times, but since several years, Manik Sarkar’s Govt. has taken no initiatives for its development. Whether the state govt. blames the centre for not giving responses for the development of this airport, on the other hand oppositions blames the State Govt. for its intentional negligence over the issue. On Monday evening, TIWN spoke to Minister Manik Dey over phone and Minister said, “We placed our demands many times with Airport Authority of India, but they are not confirming anything about the budget and infrastructural investment”.

However talking to TIWN, DM Mrinal Kanti Nath said, “I have not informed about any latest plan of State Govt. on this issue of Airport renovation, although the Detailed Project Reoprt (DPR) is in State Govt.’s hand”.

Manik Dey further narrating about the history said, “Long ago there was few flight services which connected  North East with Tripura, but Airport Authority of India also stopped them, so on which basis we  would progress?”  “If we invest crores, then they don’t do any action then it will be a total loss for the state govt.”, they further added.

Unakoti DM Mrinal Kanti Nath also said, “Last year, we sent the Detailed Project Report(DPR) on this project, still we are not informed anything so that we can take any initiative on this.

Manik Dey also said, “We gave the requisition long back”, “We will only buy the land after Project will get sanctioned from the centre”.

However, amongst all the disputes, the common people of both districts are the main sufferers. For North’s people its very tough to come to Agartala airport in time and make the journey, so thinking about them state govt. should take a step and solve this issue as fast as possible.

However talking to TIWN, Sudhindra Dasgupta, BJP State President said, “The state govt. needs to be serious about the project and place the demand for airport renovation in right place and right way showing more interest. It’s totally state govt.’s responsibility to start the developmental work with own initiatives, afterall it’s a state project.

Kailashahar Airport had started on 1950. According to reports although the central govt. gave green signals long back for the renovation of Airport, but due to lack of seriousness of the state govt., the Airport remanis as it is. Calltles are roaming inside, grass and bushes have gripped the whole area.

However, it would be very helpful for the people of North and Dhalai Dist. if Airport get started again. Not only Dhalai Dist. and North Dist. but places like Karimganj, Berakvelly which are far away from Agartala airport would be benefited from it.

Since May 1991 the airways service had been stopped totally. In 1993, before assembly election, during the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s visit,  former MP Santosh Mohan raised the issue of  this Kailashar Airport but one after one govt. in both centre and state came and gone, but no initiative ever seriously had taken for this airport. Then during UPA govt.’s rule few initiatives although were taking, but the present reality is just shows in its deploarble condition.

In 2014, the then DM of Unakoti Abhishek Chandra with his own initiatives started this project and 100 meter land had been identified on the side of this Airport, but then no progress till now has been done, and presently Kailshahar Airport has become a barren land.

According to the DPR, atleast 80 crore is needed for this developmental work, but neither the state govt. is ready to invest anything and blames the centre for not giving responses.

However Sudhindra Dasgupta, BJP State President said to TIWN, “The state govt. needs to be serious about the project and place the demand for airport renovation in right place and right way showing more interest. It’s totally state govt.’s responsibility to start the developmental work with own initiatives; afterall it’s a state project.