Agartala, 13th June 2026: Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, Agartala has emerged as a symbol of progress and connectivity for Tripura, said Airport Director Krishan Mohan Nehra during the Yatri Suvidha Diwas 2026 press briefing. He noted that from limited services to Kolkata and Guwahati in 2014, the airport now manages around thirty-five daily aircraft movements and connects to major destinations including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Imphal, Kolkata and Guwahati. Passenger traffic has nearly doubled from 8.9 lakh in FY 2014-15 to 15 lakh in FY 2025-26, while aircraft movements rose from 7,000 to nearly 12,000 annually.
Nehra highlighted the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Domestic Air Cargo Terminal in 2025 with a handling capacity of 40,000 tonnes, strengthening Tripura’s role in national logistics. He emphasized passenger-centric initiatives such as Digi Yatra, May I Help You services, twenty check-in counters, Udan Yatri Café, AVSAR outlets promoting local artisans, Kidz Zane, free Wi-Fi, child care rooms, massage chairs, and inclusive facilities like sanitary napkin dispensers and diaper stations.
The Director underlined the airport’s commitment to sustainability, citing the 250 kW solar plant commissioned in 2019, the 60 kW addition in 2025, and plans for a 1,600 kW plant by 2027 that will generate 21 lakh units annually and save ₹2 crore in electricity bills. He also mentioned the EV charging station, single-use plastic free practices, and the GRIHA Four-Star Rating for the New Integrated Terminal Building in 2024.
On infrastructure, Nehra pointed to the inauguration of the New Integrated Terminal Building with a capacity of 3 million passengers, four boarding bridges, two taxiways, an isolation bay, modernized hangars, seven parking bays, and digital CNS/ATM systems. He recalled the airport’s role during adversity, including maintaining operations during COVID-19 and facilitating relief during the 2024 floods.
He stressed that MBB Airport is not only an aviation facility but also a source of direct and indirect employment, citing ICAO multipliers showing that every ₹100 spent on air transport yields ₹325 in benefits and every 100 direct jobs generate 610 indirect jobs. Concluding, Nehra said MBB Airport embodies the spirit of a New India—connected, resilient, sustainable and inclusive—while contributing to the nation’s journey towards becoming a global leader in aviation and infrastructure development.
