Upgradation of Agartala airport may start in Feb next-Minister

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is likely to start the work for upgradation of the Agartala airport to international standards in February next.
"The union minister assured me to start the upgradation works before the next February and Rs 438 crore was sanctioned by the AAI to undertake the work. Papers have been sent to Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for clearance," State Transport Minister Manik Dey told reporters here today.
The state minister also appealed for air connectivity to Dhaka and Chittagong of neighbouring Bangladesh during his meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju on September 21 in Delhi.

"If our airport is modernized, air traffic from different parts of Bangladesh would increase because Bangladeshi goods have a good market in the state and their businessmen are frequently visiting the state," De said.
The Aviation Ministry had earlier announced that the Agartala airport would be elevated to the status of international airport.
The transport minister also took up the issue of re-opening of Kailasahar airport in Unakoti district of the state to reduce pressure on Agartala airport.
In 2013, altogether 8,16,303 passengers traveled through the Agartala airport while in 2014, the number rose to 9, 05,014, officials said.