ITANAGAR, Arunachal Pradesh: Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu said India’s aviation boom is reshaping the Northeast, where new airports and faster connectivity are fueling tourism, trade, and local aspirations.
Speaking at the North East Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation and the 3rd North East Aviation Summit here, Naidu highlighted that operational airports in the region have grown from nine in 2014 to 16 now, with passenger traffic more than tripling.
He urged states to harness the region’s tourism potential, accelerate skilling initiatives, and plan new airports under the Centre’s offer of four free pre-feasibility studies for Greenfield development annually.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu called connectivity the “most critical sector” for development, crediting the UDAN scheme and new airports for transforming access in the frontier state.
Chief ministers and ministers from Mizoram, Sikkim, and Assam joined the dialogue, stressing aviation’s role in unlocking trade, tourism, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Over 70 industry stakeholders, including airlines and cargo operators, participated, with sessions covering airport models, helicopter emergency services, and aviation skills development. The event underscored aviation’s role as a key enabler for Viksit Bharat @2047.
