With the landing of Alliance Air’s ATR-42 plane at Pasighat ALG on Monday, the air connectivity has received major boost in the state. The successful landing of test flight has paved the way for start of commercial operation. Alliance airline and Zoom Air is launching air service to Pasighat and Tezu under Udaan scheme of the government of India. The Tezu airport is also expected to start operation by August this year. This is an exciting time for the people of Arunachal, in particularly for the citizens of eastern belt.
The improved road connectivity along with the launch of commercial flight to Pasighat and Tezu will forever change the life of the citizens of eastern Arunachal. The credit goes to officials, citizens and politicians for embracing the development projects with open arms. While road connectivity has drastically improved in eastern region the situation is just opposite in western Arunachal. The compensation issue along with bitter political rivalry has stalled several important road projects under Trans Arunachal highway (TAH) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The proposed green field airport at Hollongi is also yet to start. The airport issue has become political one and everyone seems to be washing off their responsibilities. No one including government at centre and state seems interested to push this project. Itanagar continues to be the only capital in whole of India not to have an airport of its own.