Arunachal Pradesh Set To Get Three New Air Routes By October 2023

In a move to boost regional connectivity, the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh will soon get new flight services. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on September 24, made a significant announcement regarding the expansion of air routes in the state, set to be operational by October this year.

During the inauguration of the newly developed infrastructure at Tezu Airport in Lohit, Scindia unveiled plans to introduce new flight services under the Centre's UDAN-5 scheme. These services include routes connecting Itanagar and New Delhi from Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi, Itanagar and Jorhat in Assam, and Ruksin in East Siang district with Itanagar. He highlighted the region's importance as a gateway to Southeast Asian countries, mainly due to its potential in horticulture and agriculture.

About Revamped Tezu Airport

The newly developed infrastructure at the airport includes an extended runway, an expanded apron, a modern terminal building, a fire station, and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. According to officials, these improvements' total cost is INR 170 crore. Initially operationalised in 2018 under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, the airport currently offers regular flights to Dibrugarh, Imphal, and Guwahati through Alliance Air and Flybig Airlines.

The terminal building, covering an area of 4,000 sqm, has a peak-hour capacity for 300 passengers, and it presently has five check-in counters, with plans to expand to eight in the future. Moreover, the airport features two arrival carousels and two aircraft parking bays suitable for ATR-72-type aircraft, as reported by officials. The airport's upgrade is expected to enhance its capacity to handle increased traffic, improve connectivity across the northeastern region and the rest of the country, boost tourism and trade, and create employment opportunities.

What Is UDAN 5.0?

The Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN) program aims to enhance regional connectivity by developing smaller regional airports, making air travel more accessible to ordinary citizens. Tezu Airport marks the fourth operational airport in the state, following Donyi Polo, Pasighat, and Ziro airports, and is the 17th in the entire northeastern region.

(With inputs from PTI)