AGARTALA, Nov 19 (TIWN): Days are not so far when the facelift work of the Agartala Airport will kick off its work from February. The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has given clearance to the plan of setting up new terminal building at Agartala Airport, sources in Transport Department confirmed. If everything falls in place, the facelift work for the Agartala Airport would start from February next year. It is worthy to be mentioned here that the state government has already handed over required land for facelift work of the Agartala Airport.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also invited tender for engaging Project Management Consultants for carrying out the Rs. 338 crore projects.In a recent communiqué, the Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that 17 flights of Air India, 14 flights of IndiGo and 14 flights of SpiceJet are operating on weekly basis on Agartala-Kolkata sector and vice-versa.Agartala airport has flights connecting various Indian cities like Kolkata, Delhi and destinations in southern states. Some fliers from neighbouring Bangladesh also use this airport. Since Agartala is the northeast region’s second largest city in terms of air traffic and population, the airport revamp will prove to be convenient for both residents and authorities.

Agartala Airport will be renovated and as well as will be made more updated.  In total 3 demands had been placed before the central Ministers, to announce Agartala Airport as International Airport, to increase the number of flights, to fix flight fares.

It is to be mentioned here that the project will include extension of runway to help accommodate wide bodied aircraft and expansion and improvement of the passenger’s amenities. However, four aero bridge provision will be there in the new terminal building, it can handle 1000 passengers both departure and arrival at a time. However the present terminal can handle only 500 passengers. Besides four conveyors belt will also inducted in the new terminal.

If the terminal building would be at least double its present size and the size of the apron would be four times bigger than the current size.  For beefing up the security in the Airport, 87 CCTV cameras have been installed in the airport. Agartala airport is expected to be elevated to the status of an international airport by two and half years.