AGARTALA: The government has called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to expedite the establishment of an immigration centre at the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, enabling the launch of international flights connecting Agartala to Bangladesh’s Chittagong.
In a letter to the Shah on Wednesday, Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Choudhury highlighted the Ministry of Home Affairs’ requisition for deploying 25 police personnel, including 20 sub-inspectors and 5 constables, to ensure the smooth operation of the proposed immigration counter at MBB Airport.
The state government has already deputed 10 police personnel to the Bureau of Immigration at MBB Airport, with an additional commitment to send five more personnel as needed in the future, he informed in the letter.
The readiness of MBB Airport to handle international flights was achieved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal building on January 4 in 2022.
ALSO READ Agartala – Chittagong direct flight soon, says Tripura minister
However, the commencement of flights has been delayed for over a year due to the absence of immigration facilities at the airport.
According to officials from the Airport Authority of India, the MBB airport, located 20km from Agartala city, is the second busiest airport in the Northeast, trailing only behind Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in terms of aircraft and passenger handling.
The new integrated terminal building at the MBB airport, constructed at a cost of Rs 500 crore and featuring a built-up area of 30,000 square meters, has been designed to accommodate 1,500 passengers, including 200 international passengers, during peak hours. The facility is equipped with all modern amenities to ensure a seamless travel experience.
SpiceJet had previously agreed to operate passenger flights three times a week between Agartala and Chittagong, and the state government had pledged Rs 15 crore as a viable gap fund to cover any initial losses, ensuring the sustainability and affordability of the new international route for the residents of both countries.
