Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Passenger traffic at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala has nearly doubled since 2014, reaching 15 lakh travelers during the 2025-26 fiscal year. Airport Director K.M. Nehra attributed this growth to the new terminal building and expanded flight services.
Nehra noted, "The number of passengers using the airport has received a major boost after the inauguration of the new terminal building. Passenger footfall has increased from 8 lakh annually in 2014 to 15 lakh during 2025-26, which is almost double." The facility now stands as the second busiest airport in the northeastern region, hosting roughly 34 daily flights that serve 5,000 passengers.
While initial operations were largely limited to Kolkata and Guwahati, the airport now connects to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Imphal, and Bagdogra. Officials are currently pushing for direct routes to Mumbai and Chennai to serve the growing population of professionals and students from Tripura living in those cities. To further streamline the travel experience, the airport is introducing the DG Yatra digital facility, complete with dedicated staff to guide passengers.
The terminal is also prepared for international expansion. Nehra confirmed that the infrastructure includes necessary provisions for immigration, security, and specialized arrival and departure lounges, allowing for the potential start of international flights at any time. Meanwhile, plans to revive the non-operational Kailashahar airport in the Unakoti district remain in progress. The Airports Authority of India has requested 20 acres of additional land from the state government to transform the site into an all-weather facility.
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