Tripura govt hopeful for air connectivity with Bangladesh

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday expressed hope that Indo-Bangla air connectivity would soon commence through Tripura.

The minister’s comments come amidst a visit from Development of Northeastern Region Minister GK Reddy, who announced that the Indo-Bangla railway connectivity project at the Agartala-Akhaura frontier is in an advanced stage of work.

“We are hopeful that flight connectivity between Agartala and Chittagong in Bangladesh will start soon. As gap funding to sustain the connectivity, the state government will spend Rs 15 crores every year. In total, Rs 3 crores have been disbursed for the project so far,” said Chowdhury while speaking to reporters prior to the review meeting held at Geetanjali Guest House in Agartala.

“We shall discuss how we can improve our transportation system. There is a huge difference between the transport system in the past and the present system. We now have an international airport, there will be Indo-Bangla railway connectivity from Nischintapur, and there will be waterways connectivity – all these issues will be discussed,” said the minister.

Chowdhury also stated that he would visit Delhi to hold meetings with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to discuss existing problems and take required steps to solve them. “We shall ensure that the international airport is equipped with required facilities,” he said.

In August of last year, the state government formally approved a proposal to start international flights with Bangladesh in the same year. The move came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport equipped with international-level standards in January 2022, and announced that international flights would soon commence from Tripura.

According to the plan, three flights will fly between Chittagong in Bangladesh and Agartala every week, where ticket prices are Rs 4,500 per passenger. While full occupancy isn’t expected in the first few years of operation, the state government decided to bear Rs 15 crores expenditure annually as viable gap funding to subsidize 50 percent of the operational cost shortfall in the first three years of operation.

On why Chittagong was chosen as a destination instead of Dhaka, which is a more popular destination, the state government clarified that a survey on passenger preferences and fund requirements was conducted to decide on the destination. However, flights to Dhaka and other popular destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia would be started in the future if authorities observe demand among passengers.

Meanwhile, a host of ambitious connectivity projects between India and Bangladesh are in the pipeline in Tripura, with some already commissioned. Among major projects, the Indo-Bangla Maitri Setu at South Tripura was commissioned along with inland waterways connectivity with Bangladesh at Sepahijala district. One Integrated Check Post (ICP) is already operational at the Agartala-Akhaura frontier, while a second ICP is under construction at Sabroom in South Tripura.

Apart from these, an Indo-Bangla railway connectivity project linking Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka is in an advanced stage of work and is expected to be completed this year. Meanwhile, the Japanese government recently held a connectivity conclave at Agartala, proposing larger trade, commerce, and passenger movement prospects in the Bay of Bengal region with NE India, Bangladesh, and the Japan-funded Matarbari deep sea port in Bangladesh, putting Tripura in a strategic location on a larger connectivity map. (The Indian Express)