Agartala-Chattogram flights starting any time now: Tripura Minister

Dhaka: International flight services between Agartala and Chattogram could start any time now, Tripura’s Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury informed the assembly on July 13.

He claimed that initiatives to begin international flight services from Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport to Chattogram Airport are in an advanced stage currently.

It was supposed to be launched by June 2023, mentioned Chowdhury, adding, low-cost carrier SpiceJet has already gotten the contract for launching the Agartala-Chattogram flight services under UDAN scheme.

On the resumption of flights from the now defunct Kailashahar Airport in Unakoti district, he said the BJP government has initiated a move to resume air service from the airport for the benefit of the people.

''If we want to resume flight service from an existing airport, we need to have an additional 75 acres,” he added.

“The Unakoti District Magistrate (DM) has been asked to prepare a project report for the Kailashahar airport,” he said.

The state also has a DPR prepared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for opening a new greenfield airport at Kailashahar in Hiracherra tea estate, about 140 km away.

Both the proposals are being deliberated upon for resuming air connectivity from Kailashahar, the headquarters of Unakoti district.

The old airport located near the Indo-Bangla border has been shut down since the early 90s on account of a lack of passengers.