Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala handles around 4500 passengers on an average daily, Airport Director K.C. Mina said on Tuesday.

Mina said, the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport ranks 15th in the country in terms of passenger footfall and services. On average, 34 flights operate daily, handling around 4,000 to 4,500 passengers.

He also said, after a brief suspension, direct flights on the Agartala–Delhi–Agartala route have resumed thrice a week by IndiGo from Tuesday. Later this month, a new evening flight at 8:30 PM will be launched on the Agartala–Kolkata route.

Responding to queries about reopening Kailashahar Airport, the Director said additional land is required to make the facility operational again.

A proposal has been sent to the state government seeking 75 acres, he said.

Meanwhile, the MBB Airport has sought approval from the Union Home Ministry to set up immigration facilities, which would pave the way for international flight operations from Agartala in the future.

The airport director announced that September 17 (Wednesday) will be observed as Yatri Seva Diwas, with a series of special programmes planned for the occasion.

He informed at a press conference that passengers arriving at the airport will receive a special welcome. As part of the initiative, a sapling plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign will be undertaken. The arrival terminal will host traditional folk dance performances.

Activities such as a drawing and quiz competition for children, a selfie point, a blood donation camp, and health and eye check-up camps for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers operating at the airport have also been scheduled. 

Additionally, students of Classes X and XII will be given a guided tour of the airport, along with an interactive discussion to spark their interest in aviation.