Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, may soon become a hub for international travel with direct flights to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand in the pipeline. The Tripura government has formally requested the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to start these services from Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury made this announcement on September 21 during a ceremony to distribute uniforms to pre-paid taxi and auto drivers at the airport. He mentioned that the request was made at a recent meeting with the Civil Aviation Ministry in Itanagar.
Chowdhury emphasized that introducing international flights from Agartala would not only boost tourism but also open up opportunities for immigration services at MBB Airport. The proposal has been submitted and the government is hopeful of receiving approval soon.
The minister also highlighted recent infrastructure improvements at the airport. He pointed out that until last year, MBB Airport did not have an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which caused problems during foggy weather. Now, with the ILS in place, flights can land safely even in low visibility conditions.
In terms of financial support, Chowdhury revealed that a viability gap fund of Rs 15 crore has been sanctioned to the Airport Authority of India. Additionally, Rs 3 crore in advance funds has been allocated for the Agartala-Chittagong route. However, the launch of this route has been delayed due to political unrest in Bangladesh.
Chowdhury also took the opportunity to address the pre-paid drivers, urging them to maintain high service standards as they play a crucial role in shaping visitors’ first impressions of Tripura. He reminded them that every tourist is a guest and emphasized the importance of ensuring that every passenger gets a ride. Drivers were instructed to stay at the airport until all flights have landed and passengers have departed.
