AGARTALA, August 5 (TIWN): The Airports Authority of India (AAI) which has undertaken a Rs 300 crore project to upgrade the Agartala airport in Tripura to international standard by 2016, yet to get clearance from Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. A senior official of civil aviation who spoke on condition of anonymity said that uncertainty gripped the modernization bid as the entire process is stuck because of the change in parameters midway.

Chief  Minister Manik Sarkar in November 2013 had approved the plan of AAI, then a  senior official  of  the Civil Aviation Ministry  assured the state government that the  modernization of  would be completed by 36 months after the design and planning gets final approval from Minister of Civil Aviation.   

The Agartala airport modernization project involves upgrading of the runway and aprons, construction of six aerobridges, three elevators and two escalators besides walkways to connect the international arrival and departure levels. The AAI would also take up projects to develop two abandoned airports in Kailashahar and Kamalpur in northern Tripura to handle medium-sized aircraft. An additional Rs.100 crore would be required for upgradation of both the airports.

 After execution of the proposed modernization project, the Agartala airport would be able to handle 1,000 passengers per hour. It is the second busiest in the northeast region after Guwahati airport in Assam. At least 22 flights operate to and from Agartala every day, carrying about 2,700 passengers. The Agartala airport would be the third international standard airport after the Guwahati and Imphal airports. Imphal's Tulihal airport was recently declared as an international airport after its modernization.

The Tripura government earlier urged the civil aviation ministry to operate flights from Agartala to Bangladesh and adjoining countries to boost trade and tourism. The airports are being made international as part of India's "Look East" policy to boost the northeast region's connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia.