Award of work order in any construction activity, irrespective of size and nature is a customary affair and normally there exist little extraordinary to treat them as news, except for a few cases. A construction firm being finally chosen and awarded work to execute the Greenfield Airport project at Hollongi is one such since it will mark the actual commencement of construction with men and machinery. This was awaited for long and the biggest dream of the people of Arunachal will now start taking shape which will spread over a little over two years from now. Completion within this particular date will be most vital since the project has already earned disrepute due to inordinate delays caused by multiple reasons. 
Arunachal has always lived with the harsh reality that among various infrastructural deficiencies, connectivity through roads, railways and air are far below bare minimum compared to the rest of country including the most underdeveloped regions. This has resulted in a prolonged state of isolated existence and no tangible economic integration with the mainland has happened resulting in a state of stagnation, ironically in those fronts needing most developmental focus. That tourism can be a real game-changer and a steady money-spinner has been theoretically and academically deliberated for decades, with most rosy utterings coming from the political class. But little substantially perceptible had happened on-ground to tap this potential due to absence of expected modes of comfortable connectivity. An arduous journey to reach the state due to connectivity limitations can never add to the tourism quotient and that’s exactly what is happening. The tag of the only Northeast state not having an airport is also a matter of disgrace. And now that all decks have been cleared heralding beginning of the countdown, a great responsibility now befalls on all stakeholders to keep the promises of completion, which has served as a vote-churner elections after elections since the dream was first floated in 2007. And not just completion, a technical glitch-free completion and continuity will be equally important, if the hiccup lessons from Gangtok’s Pakyong airport are to be learnt. The airport will surely find a place for the state capital in international aviation map in coming future since it will be accommodative for take-off and landing of huge jet aircrafts of international flights. While measuring the prospects of furtherance of the Act East Policy in terms of the angles of commerce, it must be said that it would remain incomplete without the Hollongi airport which will offer an unmistakable geographical advantage with South East Asia. Thus, it is as much a national necessity just as it is for the state.
There must be constant monitoring all throughout till inauguration and above all, March 31, 2022 must remain the final deadline. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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