Advanced airfield in Tawang may not be feasible

An advanced airfield for military and commercial use in strategically important Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh may not be feasible due to topographic constraints and weather, a preliminary evaluation of a proposal by the government has shown.
Government had identified a place called Sogyatse in Tawang district to develop an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in the region which is only connected with the rest of the country through a treacherous road network.
A preliminary analysis of the project shows that the area proposed for the ALG may not be conducive because of the high altitude and topographic conditions, official sources said.

"...I am yet to get a complete technical report on the project. However other than Tawang, work on other landing grounds in Arunachal Pradesh Mechuka, Ziro Passighat, Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong and Aalo is on in full swing. I think the maximum number of advanced landing grounds in the country are being built in Arunachal," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told PTI when asked about the report.
Tawang which borders Tibet is strategically important for India as China's People's Liberation Army had reached Tezpur in 1962 through this route.
Poor connectivity is a major problem as it takes nearly 16 hours to reach Guwahati after 600 kilometres of arduous route. Journey from Tawang, which is 448 kms away from state capital Itanagar, takes 10 hours and it takes the same time to reach Tezpur in Assam which is the closest railway station.

"If ALG in Tawang could materialise for military and civil purposes, we can give a boost to the economy here by promoting tourism in the area. This area has immense potential in tourism but people don't come here because of the long and tiring journey they have to undertake," Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Pema Khandu said.