OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh scripted another aviation history with the successful test landing by Indigo Air, at the newly-constructed Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi, near here on Tuesday morning.
Two water cannons sprayed water as a welcome gesture, when the Airbus A320 flight landed at the airport with crew members and a few officials on board, sources at the state civil aviation department informed.
Sharing the news of the test landing, Chief Minister Pema Khandu in his Facebook page said, "It is a milestone moment for us as we're making every possible effort to ensure ease of travel in our state. Gratitude to all for contributing their bit to improve our people's ease of life!"
"It's so satisfying and fulfilling to see Indigo flight making a successful test landing at Donyi Polo airport. Ensuring better connectivity to our people is a top priority of my government. Rest assured, we'll ensure we've many more flights from Itanagar," Khandu said in a tweet later.
State civil aviation minister Nakap Nalo also expressed his delight over the 'historic' development. "History being made, as the Air connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh begins very soon. Indigo Air has successfully made its test landing today at Donyi Polo Airport," Nalo said on his Facebook page.
The minister said the state's tourism sector would highly benefit from the airport once it is operational as it would be easy for international and domestic tourists to reach Arunachal Pradesh. State Home Minister Bameng Felix, who was present at the airport to welcome the IndiGo Airlines pilots, crew members and other officials, termed the test landing a long-cherished dream of the people of the state.
"A fully operational commercial airport facility in the state has been a long cherished dream of our people which inched further today towards becoming a reality. A milestone moment indeed! Congratulations to all," Felix tweeted.
The first flight test landing was conducted by the Airports Authority of India in the airport on July 19 this year.
Developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 645 crore, the facility, located at Hollongi near here, is designed to be a greenfield airport with eight check-in counters and will be able to accommodate 200 passengers during peak hours of the day. Hollongi is about 15 km from the state capital Itanagar.
At present, there is no airport in the vicinity of the state capital, the closest one being the Lilabari Airport in Assam's North Lakhimpur district, at a distance of 80 km from here. After commissioning, the airport will be the first in the state with a runway of 2,300 m, suitable for the landing and take-off of Boeing 747. With an area of 4,100 sq m, the airport will be equipped with all modern facilities for passengers. It is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October this year, sources at the state civil aviation department said.
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