Arunachal achieves new Air Connectivity milestone connecting four more towns

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh's air connectivity reached a milestone with paths cleared for the introduction of fixed-wing flight services to the state's remote border towns --Mechuka, Tuting, Ziro, and Vijaynagar.

In the virtual presence of state Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement with Alliance Air to lease two 'Made in India' Dornier DO-228, 16-seater aircraft, for operation in Arunachal under the Central Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN.

CM Khandu expressed hope that all Arunachal Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) will be connected with fixed-wing passenger services in the near future.

The DO-228 services will be introduced in three phases: Pasighat and Tezu in the first, followed by Mechuka, Tuting, Vijaynagar, and Ziro in the second.

In the third phase, two more ALGs, Dirang and Daporijo, which are currently being surveyed, will be linked.

CM Khandu stated that the civil passenger terminal buildings (PTB) at Ziro and Tuting are currently under construction and will be completed by the end of the year.

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PTB at Mechuka is also being built, while Pasighat and Tezu already have the necessary infrastructure.

The Chief Minister proposed that flight services connecting Tezu, Pasighat, and Ziro be maintained until the Hollongi Airport is completed and can be used as an operational base for DO-228 aircraft.

Tuting, Mechuka, and Vijaynagar may be extended to Lilabari airport in Assam's Lakhimpur district, allowing passengers from these remote areas to fly to the state capital.

Furthermore, until the Hollongi airport is completed, the operational base for the Dornier aircraft may be established in Guwahati or Dibrugarh, he suggested, while assuring that a Core Group will be formed as needed to finalise the operational plan for the two DO-228 aircraft within the next two months.

The Chief Minister further stated that the official opening ceremony for the DO-228 aircraft services will be held at Mechuka in the Shi-Yomi district, and he invited MoCA, HAL, Alliance Air, and other officials to participate in the inaugural DO-228 flight.

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