Former Chief Minister and incumbent Lok Sabha MP from West Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb, on Wednesday raised the issue of operationalising international flight services at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, Agartala. Speaking during the ongoing Parliament session, Deb drew the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging them to expedite the introduction of international flights from the state’s only major airport.
Highlighting the airport’s readiness, Deb said, “The MBB Airport Agartala is fully prepared for international flight operations. It has 20 check-in counters, four aerobridges, and the capacity to handle up to 3 million passengers annually.” He further informed the House that the state government had already allocated ₹18.85 crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to support necessary upgrades.
Addressing technical requirements, the MP said that all relevant issues had been resolved. “The Government of Tripura has already forwarded the list of 25 police personnel who will be deployed for immigration duties at the airport counters. Since technical matters stand settled, the Government of India should now consider introducing international flight services from MBB Airport, Agartala,” he added.
Deb also pointed out recent infrastructure developments at the airport. He said that MBB Airport had been accorded the status of a ‘bordering airport’, a designation important for international movement. Additionally, ground lighting systems have been installed to strengthen night-time and advanced aircraft operations.
The MP emphasised that Tripura, being a key entry point to Southeast Asia, stands to benefit significantly from international connectivity, which would boost trade, tourism and cross-border exchanges. He urged the Centre to prioritise the matter in the interest of regional development and improved air connectivity for the Northeast.
