Tripura govt proposes to reopen two airports

Agartala, May 22 (UNI) The Tripura government has initiated a proposal to reopen two closed airports in the state following the 54th meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) to launch air connectivity exclusively for the North East states.

Official sources here today said after Guwahati, Agartala had become the second busiest airport in the region due to inconsistent and inadequate surface transport.

Consequently, the state government demanded the revival of the Kailashahar and Kamalpur airports.

Sources said some private operators were also keen to start both internal and external flight services in Tripura but it would only be possible when the ministry restored the infrastructure and the small aircraft of Indian and Alliance Air started operation.

Kailashahar and Kamalpur are located in remote areas but well connected with few more towns, while many citizens were travelling frequently and if they could be connected by air, both the money flow and trade would increase substantially in the state, official sources informed.

The 54th NEC meeting had also reviewed the feasibility report of the proposed aviation project to connect all NE states including Sikkim, which was carried out by the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).

A private airline operator, reportedly running successful operations in Bhutan and Nepal, agreed to venture into the region, while another operator was also approached for introduction of services in the region, officials added.

Small planes like the Beech craft were proposed for operations to ten NE locations in the initial phase and the network would later be extended to nine other destinations of the region.

According to NEC sources, the IL&FS asked for government aid of about Rs 32 crore for the first three years, after which the airlines operations would be sustainable.

The project would be targeted at foreign tourists and local businessmen who were forced to commute to Guwahati by road or wait for larger flights that were often delayed.

''Two hubs, Guwahati and Agartala, have also been proposed for connecting flights to Delhi and three other major cities of the country,'' sources said adding that altogether 122 flights of five airlines in a week were presently operating in Agartala.

UNI