AAI to upgrade Agartala airport to international stds: Min

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will spend Rs 438 crore to upgrade Agartala airport to international standards, state transport minister Manik Dey said today.
"The Union Aviation Minister told me that Rs 438 crore has been sanctioned on September 11 last for upgradation works. He further informed me that some more procedures are to be fulfilled before the construction work starts," Dey told the Tripura Assembly in a statement today.
He said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had placed a demand to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to upgrade the Agartala airport to international standard when the PM visited the state in December 2014 and set up connectivity with Dhaka and Chittagong for trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.

Agartala airport would be turned into an international one as part of India's 'Look East policy' to increase trade and commerce in the North Eastern region and boost connectivity with Southeast Asian countries, the minister had earlier said.
A master plan has been prepared for upgrading the airport and 72 acres of land acquired by the state government was handed over to the AAI for expansion of the runway, construction of a new terminal building, hanger, cargo complex and car parking, Dey said.
More than 17 flights operate in a day from Agartala airport, the second busiest in the Northeast after Guwahati airport in Assam.