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The proposed revival of Tripura's non-operational Kailashahar Airport has been delayed due to pending land acquisition, according to state Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury. The existing runway is too short to accommodate ATR aircraft, making expansion essential before flight operations can resume. The state government has already held discussions with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), but the feasibility report is still awaited. The project is estimated to require between INR 400 crore and INR 500 crore for land acquisition and airport expansion, with the government expected to take a decision after receiving the report.
The revival of Tripura's Kailashahar Airport has been delayed due to challenges in acquiring land required for the expansion of the facility, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said recently. The airport, located in Unakoti district, has remained non-operational for several years despite repeated efforts by the state government to restore flight services.
Chowdhury said the state government is committed to reviving the airport, and Chief Minister Manik Saha has already held discussions with officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to assess the feasibility of restarting operations. However, the AAI is yet to submit its detailed feasibility report, which will form the basis for further decisions on the project.
According to the minister, expansion of the airport is essential because the existing runway is not long enough to accommodate ATR aircraft, which are commonly used for regional connectivity. He said land acquisition is the biggest hurdle in taking the project forward and estimated that around INR 400 crore to INR 500 crore would be required for acquiring land and expanding the airport. He expressed confidence that the Chief Minister would take an appropriate decision once the necessary reports are received.
Kailashahar Airport played an important role during the 1971 Indo-Pak war but has remained shut for decades due to inadequate infrastructure and operational constraints. In recent years, the state government has been pursuing its revival as part of efforts to improve regional air connectivity under the Centre's UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. An AAI team had earlier inspected the airport and surrounding areas to assess infrastructure, land availability and operational requirements for restarting services.
The issue has also received support from the Opposition. Congress Legislature Party leader Birajit Sinha reiterated the need to revive the airport, stating that it would improve passenger connectivity while also strengthening strategic infrastructure in the border region. He said he intends to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking support for the project. Sinha also claimed that Bangladesh has established an air base around 8 to 10 kilometres from Kailashahar town, making the airport important from a national security perspective as well.
The proposed revival is expected to improve connectivity for residents of Unakoti district and neighbouring areas, reduce travel time to other parts of the country and support tourism and economic development in northern Tripura. The airport's reopening would also complement the state's broader efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity across the Northeast.
Source PTI
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