Agartala Airport logs 68.53 pc rise in passenger traffic over 11 years
Agartala, June 13
Passenger traffic at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala has increased by 68.53 per cent over the past 11 years, reflecting the rapid growth of Tripura's aviation sector, officials said on Saturday.
MBB Airport Director K.M. Nehra said passenger traffic rose from around 8.9 lakh in 2014‑15 to nearly 15 lakh in 2025‑26. Aircraft movements also increased from about 7,000 annually to nearly 12,000 during the same period, he told the media.
The MBB Airport, now the second busiest in the Northeast after Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, has significantly expanded its connectivity. While scheduled flights in 2014 were largely limited to Kolkata and Guwahati, the airport now offers services to major destinations including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Imphal, Kolkata and Guwahati, handling around 35 aircraft movements daily, Nehra said.
The official said the commissioning of a state‑of‑the‑art domestic cargo terminal in 2025, with an annual handling capacity of 40,000 tonnes, has strengthened the airport's role as a logistics hub, facilitating transportation of agricultural produce, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and other essential commodities.
The airport has also upgraded passenger facilities with the introduction of Digi Yatra, self‑service check‑in systems, free Wi‑Fi, childcare rooms, Udan Yatri Café, dedicated outlets promoting local handicrafts and several other passenger‑friendly amenities.
According to the MBB Airport Director, on the sustainability front, a 250 kW solar power plant commissioned in 2019 is generating nearly two lakh units of green energy annually. Another 60 kW solar plant became operational in 2025, while a 1,600 kW solar facility is planned by 2027. Together, these projects are expected to generate around 21 lakh units of electricity annually and save nearly Rs 2 crore in power costs, Nehra said.
Infrastructure development has also received a major boost with the inauguration of the New Integrated Terminal Building, capable of handling three million passengers annually. The expansion includes four passenger boarding bridges, seven aircraft parking bays, two taxiways and upgraded communication and navigation systems.
Nehra said the MBB Airport remained a vital lifeline during the Covid‑19 pandemic and the devastating floods that hit Tripura in August 2024 by ensuring the uninterrupted movement of essential supplies and facilitating relief operations.
He said the airport has evolved into a modern aviation hub, playing a key role in improving connectivity, promoting trade and tourism, generating employment and supporting Tripura's socio‑economic development.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Excellent infrastructure growth for Agartala! The new integrated terminal with 3 million passenger capacity is a game-changer. Also proud to see Digi Yatra implementation and childcare rooms - shows we're thinking about all travelers. Kudos to the team for managing 35 daily flights now! 🇮🇳
Impressive numbers! The cargo terminal capacity of 40,000 tonnes is substantial for a regional airport - that will really help local farmers and artisans export their products. The solar power initiatives show responsible planning too. Hope similar upgrades happen at other Northeast airports.
While the numbers look good, let's be honest - 15 lakh passengers is still far behind major airports. Also, I hope the increased traffic doesn't lead to delays and congestion like we see at bigger airports. The Digi Yatra and self-check-in are nice, but what about parking space and road connectivity to the city? Small steps in the right direction though.
As someone from Tripura, this makes me proud! Remember the days when we only had flights to Kolkata. Now my relatives from Bengaluru can visit directly. The airport played a vital role during floods and Covid too - shows how important infrastructure development is for the Northeast. Jai Tripura! 🙏
Love the sustainability angle - 1,600 kW solar facility planned by 2027 will save nearly Rs 2 crore annually. That's smart economics! The cargo terminal opening up markets for local handicrafts and pharmaceuticals is particularly interesting. Northeast India has so much potential for trade with Southeast Asia.
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