Boosting connectivity to Northeast

With a massively booming tea and tourism industry, the north-eastern region of India is all poised to emerge as a world-class air transport hub in the long run.  

- AMARTYA SINHA

Connectivity to the northeastern part of India has always been a major challenge since the partition of Bengal in 1947. With the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 and the airspace over erstwhile East Pakistan being reopened for civilian flights, a boom in air connectivity followed soon after. Most of the unused World War-2 era airfields in the region have sprung back to life and many of the airfields have been redeveloped into full-fledged airports.

Much of the northeast's value chain has remained unlocked- in agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, processed food, engineering, automobiles, garments, pharmaceuticals, etc. and the moves for connectivity could well see air trade with Bangladesh, the ASEAN nations and the rest of India.

Guwahati, which has always been one of the primary nodal points for air connectivity in the region, is now directly connected by air with most major Indian cities along with Dhaka, Paro and Bangkok for passenger traffic and Hong Kong for freight haulage.

Moreover, the region's other airports which were earlier lagging behind Guwahati in terms of domestic and international connections, are also slated for a major revamp. Air services between Imphal and Mandalay are being mulled to support the growing medical tourism in northeast. Maiden flights from Imphal to Mandalay and Agartala to Dhaka are likely to start soon. Starting of additional international flights from Bagdogra Airport will boost tourism in North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan. The Sikkim government is also considering the introduction of online permits or on-arrival permits at the entry points.