Guwahati: The people of Arunachal Pradesh beamed with joy and hope as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first greenfield airport in Itanagar on Saturday.
One of the locals claimed that everyone is benefited from the airport especially sick people. We’ll also save time from it.
“The airport is beneficial for everyone, especially for ill people. It will also save us time. Our state has developed in all aspects recently. I am thankful to PM Modi,” said a local at the inaugural function of Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
At the opening ceremony, a different resident congratulated the Pema Khandu administration for the airport.
“I am grateful to the Pema Khandu government for giving local people their own airport. Earlier we had to travel to Guwahati & Kolkata to catch flights now we will have our own airport,” said another local present at the inaugural function.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation as well as open the first greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh, the Donyi Polo Airport in Itanagar.
The action is a crucial one to improve North-East connectivity.
The airport’s name honours the state’s ancient indigenous veneration for the Sun (known as “Donyi”) and the Moon (known as “Polo”) as well as the traditions and rich cultural legacy of Arunachal Pradesh.
The PM formally broke ground on this airport in 2019.
According to Dilip Sajnani, Director, Airport Authority of India, the airport, which was built over more than 690 acres for more than Rs 640 crore, is anticipated to significantly improve connectivity as well as support the expansion of trade and tourism in the area.
The airport’s 2300 m runway is ideally suited for daytime operations in all conditions. The airport terminal is a cutting-edge structure that supports resource recycling, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
The terminal in Hollongi which has a peak handling capacity of 200 people per hour, was built at a cost of over Rs 955 crore, according to an official release. It has a 4100 sq m size.
PM Modi had in a tweet yesterday said “Commerce and connectivity will gain immensely from this project.”
Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu had termed the “The Great Hornbill Gate” at the Donyi Polo airport at Hollongi “an architectural marvel”.
In a tweet, on November 16 he said, “The Great Hornbill Gate, which welcomes you to iconic Donyi Polo airport, is an architectural marvel. Made of bamboo and cane, it’s been designed by promising Arunachali architect Aroty Panyang from the East Siang district. Glad to have inaugurated the gate today.”
The Donyi Polo airport would bring the total number of airports in the Northeast to 16, making it the third operational airport in Arunachal Pradesh and the first in its capital city Itanagar.