Guwahati: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned to construct a new airport at Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district, said Union civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday.
The minister, while replying to a question from Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering, said that the new airport will have a capacity of handling 200 peak-hour passengers.
While responding to Ering’s question regarding construction and expansion of airports including those in Arunachal Pradesh, Prabhu also said that the construction of a Category 4 ATC tower-cum-technical block-cum-fire station and associated facilities at the Tezu airport have also been planned.
The Union minister highlighted about the extension of the airport’s runway by 128 metres besides laying two new aprons for ATR 72 aircraft along with a link taxiway.
“The AAI has planned for infrastructure development at various airports, including 20 major airports, with a capex of Rs 25,000 crore in the next five years” said Prabhu.
Speaking about the development of various airports, he also added: “Development, upgrading and expansion of an airport is a continuous process and is undertaken by the AAI from time to time, depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socioeconomic considerations, traffic demand, and willingness of airlines to operate to and from such airports.”
