ITANAGAR, Nov 28: Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the first commercial flight of Indigo Airlines from Kolkata to Donyi-Polo Airport, Itanagar virtually today. 
Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein who flagged-off the return flight from Arunachal's first airport to Kolkata and Mumbai termed the occasion a historic day for the state. 
"This is the beginning of a new chapter in Civil Aviation history of Arunachal Pradesh as from today onwards we are going to have direct air-connectivity from Donyi-Polo Airport, Itanagar to Kolkata, Mumbai and other metro cities across the country," he said.
Terming it a proud moment for the people of Arunachal Pradesh, Mein extended his gratitude to Indigo Airlines, one of the largest and best commercial flight operators in the country for choosing to operate from Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar.
Highlighting the journey of civil aviation in the state, Mein said that earlier the state had 9 airstrips -- at Ziro, Aalo (Along), Pasighat, Tuting, Mechuka, Walong, Vijaynagar, Tawang and Daporijo which were non-operational. However, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, during 2014-18, three Advanced Landing Grounds at Pasighat, Tezu and Ziro had been made operational and also the first Greenfield Airport in the State, Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar was constructed which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on November 19 last.
Under the present government at the Centre, seven airports have been constructed in the Northeast region in the last 7 years since 2014 against nine airports built in seven decades from 1947-2014, the deputy chief minister said.
Indigo with 75 destinations across the country will introduce a direct flight to Mumbai via Kolkata and connecting flight to various metro-cities across the country. Apart from it, Indigo is also providing connecting flights to international destinations to South East Asian countries, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi (Vietnam) and to Europe via Istanbul in collaboration with Turkish Airlines.
Mein opined that the launch of air connectivity will pave the way for easy and faster communication which will benefit not only regular travelers and business classes, but also general people, patients and students. He also added that tourism will be greatly boosted and it will open new opportunities for investment, trade, travel and people to people connect as it will make the State more reachable for the people from various parts of the country.
“Side by side, it will also help other hospitality industry like hotels, accommodation facilities to grow in the State and boost the economic activities to a great extent," he said.
He said, “now onwards, people from rest of the country can explore the rich scenic beauties and diverse cultures of our State as we are going to have air connectivity to the tourist places of the State namely Tezu, Pasighat, Ziro, Aalo, Mechukha, Tuting and Vijaynagar in days to come.
Alliance Air is starting its fixed wing flight (Dornier DO-228) services along Dibrugarh –Hollongi – Ziro - Lilabari route from November 29 and for Dibrugarh-Hollongi-Pasighat route from November 30 next. Further fixed wing air connectivity to far-off border places like Tuting, Mechukha and Vijaynagar will begin in coming days, the deputy chief minister said.
Saying that the Donyi-Polo Airport, Itanagar is the second Airport in the State under Airport Authority of India, the first being the Tezu Airport, he requested the Airports Authority of India to facilitate Instrument Landing System (ILS) and all navigation aids for all-weather operation at Tezu Airport for round the year air connectivity to eastern Arunachal which will be a boon for the socio-economic development of the state.
The first commercial flight which took off from Kolkata at 1020 hrs arrived at Hollongi at 1235 hrs. The first commercial flight with 99 passengers onboard  took-off at 1305 hrs from Donyi-Polo Airport.
Among others, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Retired General, Dr. V K Singh, MP (Lok Sabha) - Arunachal East, Tapir Gao, MP - Rajya Sabha, Ms Dola Sen, MP - Lok Sabha - Kolkata Dakshin, Mala Roy, Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Pasang Dorjee Sona, MLAs Chau Zingnu Namchoom and Smti Jummum Ete Deori, Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation, Tame Phassang, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Bansal, Principal Advisor, IndiGo Head Office, R K Singh and others were also present on the occasion.

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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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