OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: The high potential Tezu Airport in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh is expected to be made operational in May next year, as prerequisite amenities for landing of the ATR aircraft, are in war footing.
Several mandatory facilities, including terminal building, car parking, entry and exit points, for its smooth functioning are under construction against all odds to maintain timeline of May 21, given by Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, sources at Airport Authority of India (AAI) said.
Strategically located Tezu and Pasighat Airport has been given top priority along with special impetus from the Ministry.
"The 72-seater ATR planes would offer three-day weekly service with a scheduled three routes to Guwahati-Tezu, Tezu- Guwahati-Imphal and Tezu-Guwahati-Rupsi-Kolkata respectively, the sources said.
"With focus on connectivity of Northeast, UDAN 4 scheme, the union civil aviation ministry has invited bids. There are six underserved and 24 un served airports/airstrips in the region," said a release.
The underserved airports and airstrips in the list are at Pasighat and Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh), Jorhat, Rupsi and Tezpur (Assam), and Shillong (Meghalaya).
Meanwhile, Tezu Airport officials expressed concern over dilly dallying tactic for clearance of four acres of land allotted to Airport for residential purpose. The officials have urged Lohit district administration to sort-out land which has been made controversy by some local populace.
"We are in want of secure accommodation, presently we managed some resident on rent but if we owned our land we can build up residential complex with security and comfort for our staffs", says one of the AAI officials and pleaded for 1. 5 acres of additional land for developing other amenities for the landing ground.