Centre mulls aerotropilsh in Assam, seeks 2000 acres land near Brahmaputra river

While meet the Assam CM at Brahmaputra State Guest House in Guwahati the Union minister requested the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to allot 2000 acres of land within hour-long distance from Guwahati City near Brahmaputra River for the aerotropilsh.

Both discussed various issues pertaining to development of civil aviation sector in the state.

The Assam CM assured all cooperation in this regard and said that it would be huge opportunity for the Northeast to open air links with the South East Asian countries.

It is to be mentioned that an aerotropolis is an airport centric metropolitan hub where infrastructure and economy are all based on the access to the airport which serves as a commercial point like any traditional metropolis which contains a central city commercial core area and commuter-linked suburbs.

Stating that the Act East Policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been at forefront of the development agenda of the state the Assam CM stated the proposed aerotropilsh would bolster the air connectivity in the region and open the North-eastern region as the business hub of the South East Asia.

Sonowal also requested the Union minister for sending officials from the Union Civil Aviation Department for conducting aerial survey of the entire stretch of Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri with helicopter for identifying suitable locations setting up airports in the state.   

Saying that the Northeast has the potential to be the growth engine of the country with opening road and air links with the South East Asian countries, Sonowal urged the Union minister for starting direct flights on the Guwahati – Bangkok and Guwahati- Singapore routes which would speed up the momentum of economic growth of the region by increased tourist inflow and trade activities.

Referring to the government plan of dredging the Brahmaputra River from Sadiya to Dhubri, the Assam CM said that increased depth of the river would enable plying of cargo ships on Brahmaputra through Bangladesh to Chittagong port for which agreement with Bangladesh government has already been made and it road, water and air connectivity would see a huge improvement in the state in near future.             

Union Minister of State Jayant Sinha also urged the Assam CM for expediting the work of metro train in the in Guwahati so that access to proposed aerotropilsh and airports can be improved.

Sonowal apprised Sinha that the government is working on starting metro train in the city and it would be complete by the time aerotropilsh comes up in next few years.          

He also apprised the Union Minister of State of government’s plan of making a State Capital Region including nearby areas of Guwahati city and industry majors of the country are being invited to set up base in the state to take advantage of the infrastructure boom of the state.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)