Agartala, February 21: Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday regarding the long-closed Kailashahar Airport, located in Unakoti district of Tripura. Officials provided insights into the meeting’s proceedings.
According to an official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Chief Minister directed officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take steps to revive the airport and restore flight services.
Saha requested AAI to send a team of technical and operational experts to conduct a ground assessment of Kailashahar Airport, situated approximately 140 kilometers north of Agartala. He also asked for a comprehensive feasibility report comparing Kailashahar, Kamalpur, and Khowai airports, detailing land availability and other potential obstacles.
The CMO official noted that the report should clearly outline the commercial, technical, and financial pros and cons of each option.
During the meeting, participants discussed a roadmap for the revival of Kailashahar Airport, which has been closed for several years. Kamalpur and Khowai airports have also remained shut for decades.
Senior officials present included Gyan Batra, Executive Director of AAI (Northeast Region), and Krishna Mohan Nehra, Director of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport. They deliberated on the necessary steps to resume services promptly.
Officials indicated that topics such as runway expansion, development of modern infrastructure, and capacity building for operating larger aircraft like Airbus were also considered.
Chief Minister Saha stated that based on the feasibility report, the state government would consult with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other relevant ministries for further action. AAI officials confirmed that a technical team would soon visit Kailashahar to conduct a detailed examination of operational and engineering aspects.
The state government and AAI agreed to work in coordination to reopen the airport.
It is noteworthy that Maharaja Bir Vikram Airport in Agartala is the second busiest airport in the Northeast region, following the popular Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.
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