PM Modi Inaugurates First Greenfield Airport in Arunachal Pradesh

Donyi Polo Airport, located in Itanagar's Hollongi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi today (19 November). The newly launched airport will help improve tourism in northeast India. It will also link the border state with other Indian cities through commercial flights as well as other parts of Arunachal via helicopter services.

“A new dawn of development for the Northeast! Launching connectivity & energy infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh”, tweets PM Modi

The airport is suited for daytime operations in all weathers because of its 2,300-meter runway. The airport terminal is a cutting-edge structure that supports resource recycling, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

As per an official release, the airport, which is the first greenfield airport in Arunachal, was constructed over a 690-acre area costing more than 640 crores.

"The airport terminal is a cutting-edge structure that supports resource recycling, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Donyi Polo Airport would be the third operational airport for Arunachal Pradesh, bringing the overall number of airports in the Northeast area to 16," as per the official release.

“The airport terminal is a modern building, which promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the recycling of resources. Donyi Polo Airport will be the third operational airport for Arunachal Pradesh, taking the total airport count in the Northeast region to 16," reads the official statement.

Union law minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh’s chief minister Pema Khandu were present on the occasion. The airport, which is the first greenfield airport in Arunachal, is built across an area of over 690 acres at a cost of over ₹640 crore, according to an official release.

“The airport terminal is a modern building, which promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and the recycling of resources. Donyi Polo Airport will be the third operational airport for Arunachal Pradesh, taking the total airport count in the Northeast region to 16," the official statement read.

On Saturday, November 19, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the brand-new Donyi Polo airport, the first greenfield building in Arunachal Pradesh, amid the chanting of incantations by tribal priests.

The border state would be connected to neighbouring Indian cities with commercial flights from the airport in Hollongi, some 15 km from the state capital Itanagar, as well as other regions of Arunachal Pradesh by helicopter services.

"Only nine airports were constructed in the northeast between 1947 and 2014. The Modi administration has now constructed seven airports in the Northeast in a brief eight-year period," it was said.

Arunachal Pradesh will become one of the most well-connected states in the nation thanks to a host of infrastructure projects, including the building of motorways, rail lines, and airports.

Additionally, PM Modi gave the country a 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station dedication.

The project, which cost $8,450 crore plans to make Arunachal a state with a surplus of electricity. The project will assist the National Grid in terms of grid stability and integration and is consistent with India's aim to move toward green energy projects.