Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu inaugurated a new terminal at Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi, near Itanagar, marking a significant milestone in enhancing air connectivity in Northeast India. Speaking to reporters, Naidu emphasized the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s focus on the civil aviation sector, noting that the number of airports, aircraft fleets, and passengers has doubled over the past 11 years. He commended Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his efforts in completing the project, which significantly upgrades the airport’s infrastructure.
The new terminal, designed to handle up to 1.5 million passengers annually with a peak capacity of 800 passengers, is a substantial improvement over the previous temporary facility, which could accommodate only 150 passengers. Since its operational start in 2022, Donyi Polo Airport has been a key hub among other airports in Arunachal Pradesh, including Pasighat, Tezu, and Ziro, with ongoing development to further strengthen regional connectivity.
Naidu announced that daily flight services from Itanagar to Delhi will commence on September 17, 2025, increasing from the current four-days-a-week schedule. He also revealed plans for daily flights to other major cities, expanding from the airport’s existing connections to Guwahati, Kolkata, and Tezu.
Discussions are underway to develop heliports across Arunachal Pradesh under the extended UDAN scheme, which has been renewed for another decade to enhance domestic and regional connectivity, particularly in the Northeast, hilly states, and aspirational districts.
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The minister also launched several passenger-centric initiatives at the airport, including the UDAN Yatri Cafe for affordable dining, a library for book exchanges across airports, the AVASAR platform to promote local products by self-help and women’s groups, and a kids’ store for families. Naidu highlighted plans to introduce free Wi-Fi for all passengers, along with additional charging stations and workstations, to enhance the travel experience.
The inauguration was attended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, state Civil Aviation Minister Balo Raja, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, and Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar, underscoring the collaborative effort to position Arunachal Pradesh as a key aviation hub in the Northeast.
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