Kailashahar Airport: CM Holds Crucial Meeting with AAI Officials
In a significant step toward improving air connectivity in Tripura’s Unakoti district, Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to discuss the operationalization of the long-defunct Kailashahar Airport. The meeting, held at the state secretariat in Agartala, focused on the findings of a recent survey conducted by AAI and strategies to expedite the airport’s revival.
The Kailashahar Airport, located in northern Tripura’s Unakoti district, has remained non-functional for over two decades. Once used for limited domestic flights, the airport was shut down due to operational constraints and lack of passenger traffic. However, with growing regional connectivity demands and the central government’s push for enhanced infrastructure in the Northeast, the Tripura government has renewed efforts to bring the airport back to life.
The meeting follows Chief Minister Dr. Saha’s recent visit to New Delhi, during which he held discussions with Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya Scindia. Dr. Saha personally appealed for the Centre’s intervention in reviving the Kailashahar Airport, highlighting its strategic importance for boosting regional development, tourism, and economic activities in Unakoti and surrounding areas.
As part of the follow-up actions, Dr. Saha also sent official communications to the Ministry of DoNER and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, addressed to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, underlining the need for a speedy assessment and project clearance.
In response to the state government’s initiative, a technical team from AAI visited Kailashahar last week to assess the condition of the airport infrastructure and its feasibility for reactivation. The team’s report, which was the centerpiece of Tuesday’s meeting, includes an analysis of the runway, terminal building, navigation equipment, and required safety measures. The survey also assessed the scope for expansion, estimated cost implications, and compliance with DGCA norms.
Shri M. Raja Kishore, Regional Executive Director, North Eastern Region and K C Meena, Airport Director, MBB Airport, Agartala from Airport Authority of India, met Hon’ble Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha to discuss operationlization of Kailashahar Airport, Unakoti Tripura. pic.twitter.com/Pjto4DLICi
— CMO Tripura (@tripura_cmo) May 27, 2025
Present at the meeting were M. Raja Kishore, Regional Executive Director for the North Eastern Region of AAI, and K. C. Meena, Airport Director of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, Agartala. The AAI officials provided a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister, outlining the technical aspects, potential challenges, and timelines for the airport’s revival.
Speaking after the meeting, Chief Minister Saha reiterated his government’s commitment to improving intra-state and inter-state connectivity. “The revival of Kailashahar Airport is a long-standing demand of the people of Unakoti and adjacent districts. It is vital for fostering economic growth and making travel more accessible for our citizens,” he said.
He also emphasized that the development of the airport would complement tourism potential in the region, particularly with Unakoti being a prominent heritage site known for its 7th–9th-century rock-cut sculptures and carvings, recently proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status. The airport’s revival would significantly cut travel time for tourists and pilgrims visiting the site.
Agartala, Tripura: Airports Authority of India has begun the process to revive Kailashahar Airport after 30 years. A high-level team inspected the site for feasibility and land issues pic.twitter.com/5Md2FooZgP
— IANS (@ians_india) May 26, 2025
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office indicated that the state government is ready to extend all possible support for land acquisition, infrastructure development, and security arrangements. Dr. Saha directed relevant departments to coordinate closely with AAI to remove any administrative bottlenecks and ensure that groundwork can begin as soon as central approvals are secured.
Tripura currently has only one operational airport — the MBB Airport in Agartala. The opening of a second airport at Kailashahar would be a major milestone in Tripura’s aviation history, helping to decongest traffic at the state capital and providing a direct air link to the northeastern hinterland.
The AAI team is expected to submit a final project feasibility report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the coming weeks. If approved, the first phase of revival works could begin later this year, officials hinted.
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With political will aligning with technical readiness, the Kailashahar Airport project is inching closer to takeoff — bringing with it hopes of better connectivity, economic uplift, and renewed infrastructural momentum for northern Tripura.
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