Milestone in Aviation: Direct flight between Tezu & Guwahati starts

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: In a landmark milestone achieved in the Aviation history of Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu Thursday flagged off the first scheduled flight of Flybig Airlines from the Tezu Airport in Lohit District of the Himalayan State to the Gateway to the Northeast -- Guwahati.

This is the second flight service started by the Airline from the State. The first service started between Pasighat and Guwahati on May 24 this year. Attending the inaugural flight ceremony virtually from Itanagar, Khandu said that this is another feather in the cap of Aviation sector in the region, a sector that did not attract much attention from the Central government before Modi came to power, informed an official communiqué.

"Operationalisation of the Tezu Airport will boost the connectivity of Eastern Arunachal, and that will facilitate easy and fast accessibility to economical activities, business and health services to the people," said Khandu.

As Arunachal Pradesh shares international borders with three countries – Bhutan, Tibet-China and Myanmar -- Khandu said that starting of flight service from Tezu attains much significance.

"A large chunk of the Indian Army and paramilitary personnel are serving in different parts of the State. Now they will also have a faster travel option to and from home," he added.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that all Army and Paramilitary personnel availing the Flybig flights from Tezu and Pasighat will pay only Rs 75 (one way) as fare till December 31 this year. The gesture from the airline company is in commemoration of India's 75 years of Independence.

He thanked Flybig founder and Managing Director Capt. Sanjay Mandvia, who was also present on the occasion, for the noble gesture. He said it is a befitting respect and recognition bestowed on armed personnel for their services to the country.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conceptualizing and implementing the 'UDAN' scheme under which the air connectivity in the State has been possible. He also requested Union Minister Mandavia to tap the possibilities of extending similar services to rest of the ALGs (Advanced Landing Grounds) operational in the State. The ALGs were temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II during the liberation of Europe. Khandu informed that in a recent meeting at Delhi, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has assured three more airports in Arunachal Pradesh – one at Dirang in West Kameng, second at Anini in Dibang Valley and a third in Upper Subansiri district. He also pointed out that the process of land acquisition for the airports is under process and once done, these will be handed over to the Ministry free of cost.

"Once the Hollongi Airport is complete and with others coming up in the future, the very face of Arunachal Pradesh will change," said the Chief Minister.

Congratulating the people of Eastern Arunachal on the landmark achievement, the Chief Minister urged them to take optimal benefit of the facility.

The ceremony was also attended by State Civil Aviation Minister Nakap Nalo, Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao, legislator Dasanglu Pul, AAI Regional Manager and others at Tezu.

The 'Flybig', which is operating the 'ATR-72' aircraft with a seating capacity of 72 persons at the moment, has got the approval to commence flights between Guwahati-Pasighat, Pasighat-Shillong, Guwahati-Tezu, and Tezu-Imphal under UDAN scheme of the central government. Reportedly, at least 30 passengers took the first flight from Tezu to Guwahati during the day, added the communiqué.

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