AAI exploring upgradation of Agartala/Imphal airports

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is exploring the possibility of upgrading the Agartala and Imphal airports in the north eastern region after Guwahati to facilitate travel for high-level international business delegations from bordering countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan, official sources said today.

Sources said a high level meeting of the AAI would be held here on June 6 for upgradation of the Agartala airport which would be attended by Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava and Chairman of AAI, V P Agarwal, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and top officials of the state government.

Sources said as part of its "Look East" policy, India was now trying to establish connectivity and trade with Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan.

The North Eastern Council (NEC) has invited fresh bids recently for a dedicated airline in the region, sources in NEC said.

Sources said Rs 160 crore would be spent to build up infrastructure like air traffic control towers, runway etc to gradually develop Imphal and Agartala airports to international standards.

There are 11 operational airports in the Northeast, including Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Silchar in Assam, Dimapur in Nagaland, Agartala in Tripura, Aizawl in Mizoram, Imphal in Manipur and Barapani in Meghalaya.

The proposed regional airline will also be connected with Bagdogra airport in north Bengal.

Tripura Transport Secretary Kishore Ambuly said the meeting would also discuss about developing two abandoned airports, Kailashahar in Unakoti district and Kamalpur in Dhalai district.

Source:EconomicsTimes

Imphal airport to go international in June

IMPHAL, May 1, 2013[TNN/TimesofIndia]--- The Imphal airport will be converted into an international airport soon - probably by June - as the construction and improvement of necessary infrastructural facilities are underway at a fast pace there.

K Kemalatha, regional executive director, Guwahati, and her entire team of engineers and the technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AII) called on chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his office on Monday.

During the meeting, the progress of construction and improvement of facilities for customs, immigration and security inside the airport were reviewed, said a statement issued by the secretary to the CM. "This will facilitate the start of international operations from Imphal Tulihal airport shortly," the statement said, adding that the revenue minister, chief secretary, DGP and other senior state officials also joined the meeting. The government has already acquired the required land for converting the Imphal airport into an international airport. Currently, over a dozen flights land on a daily basis at the airport, located at the Malom village in Imphal West district.