By Preetam BC

Kokajhar :  The Rupsi airstrip in Assam’s Kokrajhar district is all set to be revived and become functional by September next. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for development and construction of Rupsi Airport under Parbhatjhora subdivision in Kokrajhar district today.

Union minister of Commerce and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu addressed the function through video link.

The chief of Bodoland Territorial Council Hagrama Mohilary, Minister Chandan Brahma, Regional Director, NER, Airport Authority of India DK Kamra, Engineering, NER, AAI Sumant Kumar Jain, MLAs Ashini Ray Sarkar, Majendra Narzary, Nijanur Rahman were also present.

 

According to AAI official Rs 69 crore will be spent on “development and operationalisation of Rupsi airport”, which will include construction of a terminal building having an area of 3250 square metres with peak hour handling capacity of 300 passengers. The airport is to be completed by September next suitable for operation of ATR-72 type of aircraft.

 

Located about 70 km from BTC headquarter Kokajhar and 15 km from Assam’s Dhubri town Rupsi airstrip has remained defunct since 1980. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) had begun work to revive the airfield. Civil operations to the airport have begun the work under the Government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme.

 

In his speech the chief minister said the Rupsi Airport is getting a new look as AAI and Civil Aviation departments have taken special interest for the development of the Airport. The airport going to have air communication with rest of the country as well neighbouring countries in coming days’, Sonowal said.

 

“The airport is going to have air communication with rest of the country as well neighbouring countries in coming days, he said adding “Operationalisation of Rupsi airport will pave way for direct connectivity and attract more tourists and trade in the region”.

 

The Rupsri Airport was constructed during by the British during World War II to supply arms, manpower and ammunition to the Allied forces. The Airport which has a single terminal spread across 3,500 square meters has a runway of 6,000 feet.

 

The operation of airport will be beneficial for passengers from the entire Lower Assam districts including Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Goalpara besides Garo Hills in Meghalaya and West Bengal and even few parts of neighbouring Bhutan.