Agartala, May 26: In a major step towards improving air connectivity in Tripura, the process to re-operationalise the Kailashahar Airport in Unakoti district has officially begun after lying dormant for over three decades. On Monday, a high-level delegation from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) visited the long-abandoned airport and its surrounding areas to assess its current condition.
The visiting AAI team included M. Raja Kishore, Regional Executive Director (RED) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the North Eastern Region (NER) and Kailash Chander Meena, Airport Director of Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport. They were accompanied by Unakoti District Additional District Magistrate L. Darlong, Kailashahar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pradip Sarkar, and other officials.
During their visit, the delegation conducted a preliminary survey of the existing airport infrastructure, evaluated visibility conditions, and examined issues related to land acquisition.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, AAI’s North East Regional Executive Director M. Raj Kishore said, “We have completed initial observations. Further planning will be done in consultation with the state government to decide the nature of services and what types of flights could be viable from this airport.”
The visit marks a crucial development in the long-standing demand for the revival of the Kailashahar Airport. The airport, due to its strategic location, is not only expected to benefit commercial aviation but could also play a key role for the Indian Air Force during emergencies or crisis situations.
Revival of the airport has been a recurring demand by both political and apolitical organisations for many years and today’s inspection shall reignited hope among the residents of the undivided North Tripura district and the neighbouring Cachar district of Assam.
While the inspection has accelerated the process, how quickly the airport becomes operational and what types of flights will finally take off from Kailashahar remains to be seen. For now, the people of the region await the moment when their long-cherished demand turns into reality.
