New terminal, aircraft bays under Phase-I project
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 16 (NPN): With the handover of nearly 18.8 acres of land by the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School (ARTC&S), the long-awaited Phase-I expansion of Dimapur Airport is set to move forward, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) initiating preliminary steps for the development project.
Speaking to Nagaland Post over the phone, director of AAI Dimapur Airport, Er. Moa Pongen, confirmed that the process had already been set in motion and that details of the newly acquired land had been formally submitted to AAI headquarters in New Delhi for further planning and execution. He informed that a team from AAI headquarters was expected to visit Dimapur shortly to conduct detailed surveys and technical assessments of the acquired land.
“AAI will plan everything accordingly once the survey is completed,” Pongen said, indicating that groundwork activities were likely to begin after completion of the technical evaluation.
According to him, around 18.08 acres of land, as per current demarcation, have been earmarked for major infrastructure development under Phase-I. The proposed expansion includes construction of a New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB), parking facilities for vehicles and additional parking bays for aircraft.
The development is expected to significantly enhance the airport’s operational capacity and prepare it for future growth in passenger traffic and aircraft movement.
On whether the expansion would lead to more flights and direct connectivity to additional destinations, Pongen expressed optimism, stating that the ongoing development and rising passenger numbers could improve prospects for increased aircraft operations in the future. At present, he said Dimapur Airport handles around 3.5 lakh passengers annually, with nearly 1,000 passengers arriving and departing daily. He also pointed out that the airport had recorded a steady annual growth trend of around 10 per cent over the past five years.
However, Pongen clarified that introduction of additional flights and direct routes would ultimately depend on airline operators and passenger demand.
“Airlines will assess the viability based on growth trends,” he said, while maintaining that AAI’s role was primarily that of a service provider responsible for airport infrastructure and operations. Nevertheless, he noted that the expansion project marked a major step towards strengthening air connectivity in Nagaland and improving infrastructure at the state’s lone commercial airport.