Infrastructure of Assam and North-East – Airways and recent development
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Infrastructure of Assam and North-East – Airways and recent development
Infrastructural Developments in Assam and North-East India
For decades, poor infrastructure and limited connectivity have acted as roadblocks hindering the socio-economic development of the North-east states. Assam along with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are geographically connected to the rest of the country, by a narrow corridor of land, known as Chicken’s Neck.
However, recently there is a push in the infrastructure sector in these states as the Indian government’s ‘Act East’ policy focuses on strengthening relations with neighbouring countries and enhance connectivity through various projects pertaining to road, rail, air, telecom, power and waterways, via these states.
NEC is funding upgradation of infrastructure in 12 operational airports. Japan also expressed its desire to offer support to India for development of infrastructure in the north-east.
Air Communication and Recent Developments
Assam
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
It is the primary international airport of the North-Eastern States of India. The airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations since its establishment in 1958. It handled more than 3.7 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 36% from 2016.
Recent Development: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2018 approved the proposed Rs 1,383 crore new international terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport, with the ambition of making it the hub of transport with ASEAN countries.
Completion of the 1,02,500 square metre terminal building will increase the airport’s annual capacity to handle passengers to nine million. This will encourage investment and tourism in the Northeast with thrust on Act East policy.
The new terminal building was necessitated as the existing one of 16,800 square metres has saturated with 3.8 million passengers in 2016-17.
Silchar Airport
It was built by the British as RAF Station Kumbhirgram in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). It is also a Civil enclave airport as it is under the control of Indian Air Force. It is the fourth busiest airport of the north-east India next to Guwahati, Agartala and Imphal.
Recent Development: A new terminal building to be constructed at Silchar as well as in Jorhat, along with the modification and expansion of the existing buildings. Re-carpeting of the runway would be done at Silchar and Lilabari airport.
Lilabari Airport
It is located in the Lakhimpur district in the town of North Lakhimpur. Construction of the airport had finished by 2003.
Recent Development: Starting in January 2019, a direct Spicejet flight from Lilabar to Kolkata began service on a daily basis.
In Dibrugarh an aircraft hangar and a new control tower cum technical block would be constructed, the runway extended and power infrastructure installed.
Sikkim
Recent Development:
Pakyong Airport
The Pakyong Airport, the first airport in Sikkim, was recently inaugurated. It is also the first greenfield airport to be constructed in the Northeastern Region and the 100th operational airport in India. Located atop a hill at 4,500 feet above sea level, is one of the five highest airports in the country. The first commercial flight will take off on October 4 from this airport.
Arunachal Pradesh
Passighat Airport
It is located at Pasighat in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The airstrip was laid down during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The IAF took over the airstrip in February 2010. An Air Traffic Control Tower, apron for parking aircraft, a perimeter road and security wall was constructed.
Recent Development: The upgraded airstrip was inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju in August 2016 and a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter of the Indian Air Force landed on the airstrip. A new passenger terminal was built in 2017. A helicopter service on behalf of the Arunachal Pradesh government is operated by Pawan Hans between Pasighat and various regional stations.
In April 2018, an Air India Regional ATR-42 aircraft carried out a test landing at the Pasighat ALG, in preparation for scheduled commercial services under the Regional Connectivity Scheme called UDAN.
Tezu Airport
Recent Development:
The upgraded Tezu Airport was inaugurated on 9 February 2019. It is upgraded to handle ATR 72 type of Aircraft. Tezu was one of five airports that were shortlisted in 2015 for the implementation of AAI’s “no-frills model”, which will provide only essential services needed to operationalise the airport.
Connectivity to neighbouring districts like Lower Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Namsai and Dibang Valley, is expected to improve greatly.
Meghalaya
Shillong Airport or Umroi Airport
The airport was constructed in the mid-1960s and became operational in the mid-1970s. The new terminal building, built at a cost of Rs. 30 crore, was inaugurated in June 2011.
Recent Development: Runway extension works will be taken up by the NEC in Umroi Airport at Shillong, to enable bigger aircrafts to land. Tura airport to be operationalisation and development.
Tripura
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport or Agartala Airport
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is a domestic airport in Agartala. It is thesecond busiest airport in northeast India after Guwahati and is proposed to be upgraded as an international airport.
Recent Development: It is undergoing expansion work of the terminus building.
Manipur
Imphal Airport or Bir Tikendrajit International Airport
It is the second largest airport built in the Northeastern region of India, after Guwahati, and the third busiest airport in the north east region after Guwahati and Agartala.
Recent Development: The Imphal airport in Manipur would have a new integrated terminal.
Mizoram
Lengpui Airport
Lengpui Airport is a domestic airport in Aizawl, Mizoram. Lengpui Airport is the first large airport in the country to be built by the State Government.
Nagaland
Dimapur Airport
The airport is built during World War II and is the only civil airport in the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland.
Recent Development: There are plans for expansion of the airport to meet international norms by buying land at Aoyimti village.
North-Eastern Council (NEC)
The North-Eastern Council (NEC) is a nodal agency for economic and social development of the north-east states. The Governors and Chief Ministers of these eight states are the members of NEC.