Sekhar Debbarma, a Tripura-born aviation professional with nearly three decades of AAI experience, has taken charge as MBB Airport Director, returning to his home state with plans to promote local products, Kokborok announcements, passenger services and Tripura’s cultural identity.
Sekhar Debbarma, a seasoned aviation professional with nearly three decades of experience in the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has returned to his home state to take charge as the Director of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala. His appointment marks both a significant professional milestone and an emotional homecoming for the Tripura-born aviation official.
Debbarma began his career in 1995 at Kolkata Airport as an Air Traffic Control Manager. Over the years, he served at several important airports and held responsibilities in different capacities, including at Agartala and Guwahati. His long association with MBB Airport has given him extensive familiarity with the airport’s operations, development and the needs of passengers in Tripura.
From 2004 to 2022, Debbarma served as the Airport Director of MBB Airport, overseeing important stages in its development. Following his tenure in Agartala, he was promoted to serve at airports in Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. These assignments provided him with experience in managing larger and more complex aviation facilities before he returned to Agartala.
After leaving MBB Airport in September 2024, Debbarma has now returned to the airport after nearly two years. Speaking after assuming charge, he described himself as a “son of the soil” and highlighted his strong emotional connection with Tripura.
Debbarma said that his focus would be on the continued development of MBB Airport and serving the interests of the people of the state. He also highlighted the importance of promoting Tripura’s local products and language at the airport, in line with the broader “vocal for local” approach.
One of the initiatives being explored under his leadership is the introduction of public announcements in Kokborok, the widely spoken indigenous language of Tripura, alongside the languages already used at the airport. According to Debbarma, the move could make airport communication more accessible while also providing greater visibility to Tripura’s cultural identity.
The proposal to incorporate Kokborok into airport announcements could also help passengers feel a stronger connection with the state’s linguistic and cultural heritage. MBB Airport, being a major gateway to Tripura, serves passengers from across the state as well as visitors and travellers from other parts of the country.
Debbarma’s return has attracted attention among residents and aviation personnel in Tripura, particularly among those familiar with his earlier tenure at MBB Airport. His previous experience at Agartala, combined with his subsequent assignments at major airports, brings both local knowledge and wider aviation experience to his new responsibility.
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Officials and airport staff have expressed optimism about the new leadership and the continued improvement of facilities and passenger services at MBB Airport. Debbarma is expected to focus on airport development while ensuring that the state’s local identity and products receive greater representation within the airport environment.
His return to Agartala thus brings together nearly three decades of aviation experience with a strong personal connection to Tripura, as he begins his new tenure at one of the state’s key gateways.
