Tripura's Chief Minister Calls on Central Government to Launch International Flights from Agartala Airport

Agartala, March 1 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, announced on Saturday that he has urged the Central government to initiate international flight operations from Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) airport as soon as possible.

During an official gathering in Agartala, the Chief Minister emphasized that development is the primary focus of the BJP government. He stated, "One of our government's objectives is to serve the public, and we are consistently working towards that end. A proposal has already been forwarded to the Centre to commence international flights from MBB Airport to various foreign destinations," Saha noted, mentioning that Rs 7,000 crore has been allocated for various infrastructure development projects.

He pointed out that MBB Airport is among the most aesthetically pleasing airports in the northeast, boasting excellent modern facilities.

“Currently, several flights connect to major cities across the nation, with more services expected to launch soon. Discussions were held regarding the initial operation of international flights to Chittagong in Bangladesh, but this plan is temporarily on hold due to the prevailing circumstances in the neighboring nation,” he added.

Previously, Tripura's Transport and Tourism Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, mentioned that SpiceJet was slated to operate flights on the Agartala-Chittagong route, and the Tripura government had allocated Rs 15 crore to the AAI for this purpose.

The government had remitted Rs 3.85 crore to the AAI as an advance payment in December 2022 and provided 25 police personnel for the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

At present, 13 flights are operational from MBB Airport, catering to over 4,000 passengers daily. The new terminal, covering an area of 30,000 sq mt, is designed to accommodate both domestic and international passengers simultaneously during peak hours.

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati and the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal currently hold international status in the northeastern region.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Tripura government is dedicated to infrastructure development throughout the state, emphasizing the importance of engaging with stakeholders and planning strategically for each project.

Saha also reaffirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions that development is essential not only for the advancement of the populace and the socio-economic upliftment of society but also for addressing numerous challenges.

He noted that the Prime Minister has provided the state with the HIRA (highway, internet, railway, and airway) model, stating that approximately 839 km of national highway construction is currently in progress in Tripura, with over half already completed.

Plans have been established for an additional four highways, and the enhanced communication system in the state now allows numerous individuals stationed in remote areas to commute daily, Saha stated.

Rail services have also witnessed significant improvements, with several express train services linking Tripura to various states across the country.

“The Vande Bharat Express trains will soon be introduced in Tripura. I recently spoke with the Railway Minister (Ashwini Vaishnaw), who assured me that Tripura will receive Vande Bharat Express train services along with inter-city train operations. The Prime Minister is guiding us towards progress,” he concluded.