In a significant development, a delegation from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) conducted an inspection of the non-operational Kailashahar Airport located in Unakoti district. The 11-member delegation, comprising operational and technical experts, arrived on Monday to evaluate the current status of the airport’s infrastructure, particularly the runway.
According to AAI officials who visited the site, the effort to resume services at Kailashahar Airport will be undertaken in two phases. The initial phase will involve the renovation of the runway to accommodate small aircraft.
The delegation boasted representation from various regions, including three officials from Delhi, three from Guwahati, and five from Agartala. Key members included Debdulal Chowdhury, Joint General Manager of the NE region; Tapas Kumar Dey, Joint General Manager (Civil); Manoj Bhardwaj, AGM Civil Headquarters; Dibyojyoti Paul, Senior Manager (CNS); and S.K. Ray, Chief Security Officer and Land In-charge, Agartala.
Official sources have revealed that the air service provider Alliance is prepared to initiate operations from Kailashahar Airport with small aircraft once the necessary renovations are complete.
During their visit, the AAI officials, in collaboration with representatives from the SDM office and Tehsil in Kailashahar, conducted measurements of the airport’s land. Their comprehensive assessment took over three hours to complete. Additionally, they convened a meeting with the District Magistrate of Unakoti in the conference hall of the DM office.
The endeavor to revive Kailashahar Airport gained momentum following the formation of the BJP-IPFT government in 2018. Both Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury have been actively working towards this goal, reflecting their commitment to enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism in the region.
Kailashahar Airport, has remained non-operational since 1992. The potential resumption of services holds the promise of significantly boosting connectivity and tourism, bringing newfound opportunities and convenience to the area.
