By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 01, 2023
Agartala, Aug 01 (FD) The Kailashahar airport in Unakoti district, which was shutdown since 1990 due to lack of space, would be made operational and revamped to boost air connectivity, a minister said.
State Transport Minister Sushanta Choudhury, who visited the abandoned airport on Tuesday said, the Civil Aviation Authority of India has taken initiative to revamp it.
He said, “Under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme (RCS), the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to re-open the shut down airports across the country. The program emphasizes the expansion of air communication services at the regional level”.
Local MLA Brijit Sinha (Congress), former MLA Mobashwar Ali, State Transport Department Uttam Kumar Chakma, DM Unakoti District Tarit Kanti Chakma, Agartala Airport Director Kailash Chandra Meena, accompanied the Minister during the visit.
Later, Choudhury held a meeting at Unakoti Circuit House in presence of senior officials of the Airport Authority of India.
He said, with the renovation and opening of the airport the Tourism industry will get a major boost as a famous tourist spot of the country as the site of the 11th century rock-cut sculpture, Unakoti is situated within a 10 km area of the airport.
According to the Minister, the reopening work of Kailashahar airport will be carried out in two phases. In the initial phase, the airport will undergo renovation, and a seventeen- or twenty-seater aircraft will be introduced. The flights will operate on the routes connecting Kailashahar to Kolkata and vice versa, as well as Kailashahar to Agartala and Agartala to Kailashahar. If all goes as planned, these services are expected to commence by the end of the current year.
The second phase of the project involves expanding the airport's runway by acquiring additional land, a process that will involve coordination with the local community. The Minister acknowledged that this phase might be time-consuming but assured that it will be carried out gradually.
The Minister expressed optimism that the renovation and reopening of the airport in Kailashahar will not only boost the tourism industry but also create employment opportunities, leading to overall economic development in the region and the state as a whole.
The acquisition of 700 meters of land in the northern part of the airport and the rehabilitation of 22 families will pave the way for the runway lengthening work to begin. Additionally, 70 meters of land on the western side of the existing airport will be acquired for the construction of airport authority offices, a car parking zone, and boundary walls. FD JK