- विज्ञापन -
Agartala: Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha has urged the Central government to expedite the launch of international flight services from Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) airport. Speaking at an official event in Agartala, Saha emphasized that the BJP government’s primary focus is on development and serving the people. He mentioned that a request for international flights has already been submitted, alongside an allocation of Rs 7,000 crore for various infrastructure projects.
Saha praised MBB Airport as one of the most aesthetically pleasing airports in the northeast, equipped with modern facilities. Currently, the airport operates 13 flights serving major Indian cities, with plans to increase these services in the future. Initially, there were discussions to start flights to Chittagong, Bangladesh, but those plans are currently on hold due to the situation in the neighboring country.
Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury had previously announced that SpiceJet would operate flights on the Agartala-Chittagong route, with the Tripura government committing Rs 15 crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The state has already paid Rs 3.85 crore as an advance and provided 25 police personnel to assist the Bureau of Immigration.
The new terminal at MBB Airport, which spans 30,000 sq mt, is designed to accommodate both domestic and international passengers during peak times. Currently, only Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport hold international status in the region.
Saha reiterated the Tripura government’s dedication to infrastructure growth, emphasizing the importance of engaging with stakeholders and planning for future projects. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision includes development as a means to address various societal challenges. Under the HIRA (highway, internet, railway, and airway) model, work is ongoing on approximately 839 km of national highways in Tripura, with over half already completed. Additionally, he noted improvements in rail services, including plans to introduce Vande Bharat Express trains to the state soon, as assured by the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw.
