Itanagar: Donyi Polo Airport, the first greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh has registered a steady increase in passenger traffic.
According to statistics from January 2023, there are 280 people passing through the airport on a daily average, and every day except Wednesday, there are six aeroplane movements.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) reports that on November 28, 2022, Indigo Airlines launched its flights in the Itanagar-Kolkata sector, marking a significant milestone for the state of Arunachal Pradesh's civil aviation industry.
The flight connecting Kolkata and Mumbai from Itanagar was inaugurated by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia via Video link which was joined by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and other State Govt Dignitaries.
Several smaller airlines have began operating flights from Itanagar in a similar manner. Itanagar-Guwahati air travel has finally begun thanks to Flybig Airlines. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN, the Gol's flagship initiative that promotes regional air connectivity by making flying accessible to the general public, direct connectivity between the two state capitals of North Eastern States began on January 15, 2023.
According to the UDAN programme, the fee is Rs. 2500 for a 30-minute trip in a helicopter or an hour-long flight in a fixed-wing aircraft, depending on the flight's capacity, which is based on 50% of the available seats (RCS Seats).
With the start of the Itanagar-Guwahati service, Flybig introduced Itanagar to its network as the tenth destination and third in Arunachal Pradesh, after Pasighat and Tezu.
In the presence of Satish Golchha, the DGP of Itanagar, Sachin Rana, the Deputy Commissioner of the Papum Pare District, and representatives of AAI, Dharmendra, the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, officially launched the flight between Itanagar and Guwahati.
Moreover, the airport has improved connection inside Arunachal Pradesh, which now operates four airports: Itanagar, Pasighat, Ziro, and Tezu.
On November 29, 2022, Alliance Air began operating Dornier 228-type aircraft for intrastate travel between Dibrugarh and Itanagar's Donyi Polo Airport. Every Thursday and Sunday, it runs flights between Itanagar and Pasighat. Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, the aforementioned planes leave from Dibrugarh.
The Donyi Polo Airport's current temporary passenger terminal building occupies a 2000 square metre space and has a 1500 square metre canopy. It is entirely air conditioned.
The terminal features a child care area and is furnished with the necessary "Divyang jan" items for individuals with disabilities. With the provision of balanced glazing and wall panelling, insulated roof, glazing, and wall panels, LED lighting throughout, and energy-efficient motor/drives for AHUS, AC compressors, conveyors, pumps, etc., this terminal building complies with GRIHA-IV and is energy efficient. The sewage treatment plant won't contaminate the land or the water sources and will let you utilise treated water for horticulture.
By the end of March 2023, a 125 KWp solar power plant that uses renewable energy will be fully operational.
The state border with Assam is shared by Donyi Polo Airport, which is situated in the south-western region of Arunachal Pradesh.
In numerous neighbouring districts, including Kurung Kumey, Kradadi, Lower Subansiri, East Kameng, Pakke Kessang, and Kamle in Arunachal Pradesh, and Bishwanath and Lakhimpur in Assam, the airport serves a population of about 20 lakh people.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed his support for the plan to connect Itanagar to the rest of the country by air in a message "We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for realising the people of Arunachal Pradesh's goal of having access to the air after 75 years of Indian Independence. We thank Flybig for offering the third and most important link in Arunachal Pradesh."
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