BY TC News Desk
Agartala: July 13. The Transport Department has requested to the DM & Collector, Unakoti district for preparation of DPR for acquisition of land of 75 acres of land on both sides of the existing runway of Kailashahar Airport.
Replying to a question raised by Congress MLA Birajit Sinha on Kailshahar Airport, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that Kailashahar Airport is a non-operatinal Airport and it is protected with property boundary wall with brick and few portions with fencing. The Airport is just adjacent of Kailashshar city. The Airport is one Old Passenger Terminal and ATC Control Tower building. In the cityside portion 4-5 old quarters are available which are beyond economical repair.
“MoU was signed on 06.12.2017 between the Govt. of Tripura and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) for development and operation of Kailsahshar Airport under RCS-UDAN scheme of MoCA. The DPR prepared for expansion of runway of Kailsahahar Airport for land measuring 75.00 acres is required to acquire which financial involvement of 245 Crores. Presently flexible Runway having dimension of 1006 X 30 Mtr is available and space available for apron is approx 60 Mtrs X 60 Mtrs. It was observed that 72 seater aircraft would not be feasible at the Airport due to runway limitations but, 20 seater aircraft may be operated after improvement of the existing runway as well as construction of new terminal building”, said the minister.
He further informed that on June 29 of 2022, State government had given consent to the MoCA for inclusion the project of Kailashahar Airport in the UDAN 5.0 bidding round strengthening of existing Runway with new shoulder is required to operate suitable type of aircraft due to constrained of land on Runway 03 beginning beyond which there is an embankment on account of Manu River.
“Presently there is no CNS facilities / installations available at Kailashahar Airport. However on transmitter building in dilapidated condition with a large vacant area laying without boundary wall. Recently, Spirit Air has placed a proposal for flight operation from Tripura under RCS UDAN 4.0 scheme”, he said.
Sushanta further informed that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha hold a meeting with Union Minister of Civil Aviation on April 24 this year regarding issues pertaining to strengthening of Civil Aviation infrastructure and increasing connectivity in the state of Tripura and regarding operationalization of existing Kailashahar Airport it has replied that Kailashahar Airport has been identified during UDAN 4.2 round of bidding for operation of RCS flights.
“Now, the Transport Department requested to the DM & Collector, Unakoti district dated 17.02.2023 for preparation of DPR for acquisition of land of 75 acres of land on both sides of the existing runway of Kailashahar Airport”, he said.
