Birajit Sinha vocal in demand for new airport in Kailasahar

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 1, 2026

Former PCC president and sitting Congress MLA Birajit Sinha has yet again raised the issue of reactivating the abandoned airport at Kailasahar through an expansion programme . He has also addressed a letter to the union minister for civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, raising the demand and explaining why it is vital to the interests of the state.

Speaking to this portal Birajit said that the abandoned airport had been operational till the early seventies after being launched during the second world war but was then abandoned by the then Indian Airlines authority as unviable. He pointed out that reviving the airport is important for the entire population of Dhalai, Unakoti and north Tripura districts who have to undertake arduous journey by road to reach Agartala to avail themselves of the air service available at the MBB airport.

“What many important people fail to understand is that there is only one airport in Tripura at Agartala and in case it pauses functioning for emergency reasons even for a short time the state and its air passengers will be in dire straits ; the state does urgently need a second airport ; besides, Bangladesh has built not only a full-fledged airport but also an air-field at Shamsher Nagar under Sylhet district that can be used by Bangladesh airforce and this is only ten Kms away from Kailasahar across the border ; this may create problems as Bangladesh in their heart of hearts is no longer a friendly country to India and China is increasing its footprints there” said Birajit , justifying the revival of a full-fledged airport in Kailasahar. He said that for the purpose of land acquisition that may be needed he has already spoken to villagers around the present abandoned airport.

Birajit said that in the year 2007 he had discussed the issue with the then chief minister Manik Sakar and he had agreed to take steps . “Actually Manik Sarkar personally visited the abandoned airport area and indicated that he would take up the issue with Centre ; he must have done so but nothing came out of this ; subsequently I also raised the issue with the present chief minister Dr Manik Saha and he also agreed to look into the matter , he may have done so but there is no tangible result as yet” said Birajit Sinha. He said that recently he has addressed a letter to the union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting him to look into the matter and added that if nothing happens in this regard he will hit the streets with the entire people of Unakoti, north Tripura and Dhalai districts.

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