The Tripura government has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to expedite the setting up of an immigration centre at the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport to commence operations of international flights from Agartala to Bangladesh's Chittagong, an official said here on Wednesday.
The MBB Airport in Agartala became ready to handle and operate international flights after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal building on January 4 last year.
The Civil Aviation Ministry also agreed to declare the MBB airport as an international airport, a Tripura government official said.
According to the Airport Authority of India officials, the MBB airport, located 20 km from Agartala city, is the second busiest airport in the northeast after Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in terms of handling aircraft and passengers.
Built at a cost of Rs 500 crore and with a built-up area of 30,000 square metres, the new integrated terminal building at the MBB airport has been designed to handle 1,500 passengers, including 200 international passengers, during peak hours and it is equipped with all modern amenities.
Officials said that Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Choudhury on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Union Home Minister requesting him to expedite the setting up of an immigration centre to commence Agartala-Chittagong international flight operations immediately.
The minister in his letter mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Immigration Division) had earlier requisitioned the deployment of 25 police personnel (20 sub-inspectors and 5 constables) in different ranks for the smooth functioning of the proposed immigration counter at MBB Airport.
Accordingly, the state government has already deputed 10 police personnel on a deputation basis to the Bureau of immigration at MBB Airport for operationalisation of the immigration centre and committed to deputation of another five police personnel as and when required later.to
Earlier, SpiceJet had agreed to operate passenger flights three times a week between Agartala and Chittagong, and the state government has also assured to provide Rs 15 crore as a viable gap fund to bear the initial loss, if any, to operate the flight on the new international route and to make the service sustainable and affordable for the people of both countries.
However, it has been delayed for more than a year due to the non-availability of immigration facilities at the airport.
International rights body expresses concern over persecution of Hindus in B'desh
The Global Bengali Hindu Coalition (GBHC), a Toronto-based rights body, on Friday raised serious concerns over rising persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and urged the world communities to take steps to stop the atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country.
Alert along Tripura-Mizoram-B’desh border after reports of cross-border movement of militants
Security forces including the Border Security Force (BSF) are on a high alert after reports of movement of militants from Bangladesh along the Tripura and Mizoram borders, officials said on Friday.
Tripura govt gives special priority to education for backward classes, girls: CM Saha
The Tripura government has been given special priority to the development of the educational infrastructure in the state and is working to provide quality education to children from all sections of society, especially, backward classes and girls, Chief Minister Manik Saha said here on Thursday.
In a first, Agartala Book Fair begins without any participation from Bangladesh
The Agartala Book Fair began here on Thursday with colourful ceremonies, albeit minus the participation of any booksellers and publishers from Bangladesh -- for the first time -- in view of the unrest in the neighbouring country.
Tripura govt to move bill giving retirement benefits to MLAs who served even for a day
A bill would be moved in the Winter session of the Tripura Assembly amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Urbania bus service flagged off for tourists; Govt prioritizes development of tourism, says Minister Sushanta Chowdhury
In yet another boost to the state tourism sector, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Wednesday flagged off Urbania bus services for the tourists and said that the government has prioritized development of tourism industry to create new employment opportunities.
Tripura gets Chief Information Commissioner after over 3 years
Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Tuesday administered oath to Binoy Shankar Mishra as the state Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.
Wild elephant hit by speeding train in Tripura succumbs to injuries
A 35-year-old wild elephant, critically injured by a speeding train in Tripura’s Khowai district, succumbed to its injuries late Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.