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New airport at Aizawl to be operational soon

Vinod Behl in New Delhi

The new airport at Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, capable of handling Boeing aircraft, will be operational this month, according to sources in the Airports Authority of India. Currently, the Turial airstrip in Aizawl has the landing facility for only smaller aircraft like Dorniers.

The new airport constructed at Lengpui has a 2,500-metre long and a 45-metre wide runway with scope for expansion capability to expand for bigger aircraft like the Airbus A-300. And what is more, with slight modification, the terminal complex can handle international flights.

The cargo complex at the airport is capable of handling 50 tonnes cargo per day with future provisions for expansion. State-of-the-art facilities like navigational aids are created to exacting standards with a view to handle international flights from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand.

According to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla, once the airport becomes operational, it will be a boon for the land-locked state, bringing investment in the region by removing infrastructure hurdles.

''Lengpui airport is planned with modern facilities so as to promote economic route by exploiting the vast tourism potential and export opportunities. With the provision of cargo facilities and export processing zones, the airport is likely to become the hub not only for Mizoram but for the entire north-eastern region,'' says Lalthanhawla.

According to AAI sources, plans are afoot to set up aircraft maintenance facilities, development of commercial areas like a hotel, shopping plaza, a full-fledged business centre and recreation centre at the proposed airport.