ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh is set to get some serious air connectivity boost in October. Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Sunday, said that operations of three new air routes in the state will begin from next month.
The new flight services will connect Itanagar to New Delhi from Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi, establish a route between Itanagar and Jorhat in Assam, and link Ruksin in East Siang district to Itanagar.
To be developed under government’s UDAN-5 (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) scheme, these routes will facilitate better access to the state.
“Today is a historic day for the Northeast and Arunachal Pradesh. The state that didn’t have a single airport in 2014, now has four – Paighat, Tawang, Ziro and Hollongi; all thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The region that had 9 airports, today have 17. The Northeast that had approximately had 946 air weekly flights, today has 1980. It’s a growth of 110%,” he said, speaking at the inauguration of revamped Tezu Airport in Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Tezu Airport has undergone a notable upgrade, including the extension of the runway, a modern apron, a state-of-the-art terminal building, a fire station, and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower. Situated over 212 acres, the airport is now equipped to handle operations for ATR-72-type aircraft. The transformation has been led by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The newly inaugurated terminal building spans an expansive 4,000 square meters, offering a peak-hour capacity for up to 300 passengers. It currently features five check-in counters, with plans to increase this number to eight in the future. The airport also provides two arrival carousels and two dedicated aircraft parking bays for ATR-72-type aircraft, enhancing its versatility as a vital transportation hub.
Minister Scindia also stated that the upgraded Tezu Airport will not only improve strategic connectivity near the China border but also drive economic prosperity in the region, furthering the government’s commitment to fostering regional development and accessibility.
Extended his sincere thanks to the Union Minister for inaugurating the new Terminal Building, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein stressed on the airport’s significance due to its strategic positioning, serving as a gateway to renowned tourist attractions like Dong Valley, Mayudia, Parshuram Kund, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Bhismaknagar, and several others.
Mein further shared that the Civil Terminal building at Walong has been finalised, while development works for Tuting and Mechukha ALGs are actively underway. He highlighted the state government’s robust investment in the Civil Aviation Sector, amounting to Rs 229 crore over the past seven years.
Minister Mein also reached out to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging them to offer and facilitate the incorporation of vital navigational equipment such as ILS, VOR approach, DME, and others, especially for Tezu and Pasighat Airports.
