Tripura is pushing for international connectivity from Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, with the state government formally requesting the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to approve direct flights to Southeast Asian destinations, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury made the announcement on Sunday while distributing uniforms to pre-paid taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers at the airport. He said the proposal was recently submitted during a Civil Aviation Ministry meeting in Itanagar. “Flights to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand from Agartala will not only boost tourism but also pave the way for immigration facilities at MBB Airport. We are optimistic that the Centre will grant approval soon,” Chowdhury said, stressing that such services would open new opportunities for trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity.
The minister also pointed to significant upgrades at MBB Airport, which was once hampered by the absence of modern landing systems. Until last year, flights often faced disruptions during dense fog due to the lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS). With ILS now fully operational, aircraft can land safely even under poor visibility conditions. On financial support for expansion, Chowdhury said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has received a viability gap fund of ₹15 crore, ensuring resources for new routes and operational improvements. He further revealed that an advance fund of ₹3 crore had been allocated for the Agartala-Chittagong flight route. However, its launch remains stalled because of ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh.
At the event, Chowdhury urged pre-paid taxi and auto drivers to maintain discipline and hospitality, describing them as the “first ambassadors” of the state. “Every tourist is our guest, and the first impression of Tripura begins with you. No passenger should be left stranded. Drivers must wait until the last flight has landed and every traveler has departed,” he told them.
