The Donyi Polo Airport, which began operations in 2022, has now added a new terminal building. Built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, the new terminal will handle 800 passengers during peak hours, a significant improvement from the 150-passenger capacity of the old terminal.
Currently, the airport is connected to major Indian cities like Kolkata and Delhi, and there are plans to include more sectors in the coming months. The daily flight to Delhi will be operational within a fortnight, which should come as a relief to travellers, as Delhi is not only a hub for education but also an important destination for healthcare services.
One concern, however, has been the high cost of flight tickets, which is often unaffordable for most people, sometimes exceeding Rs 20,000 for a one-way journey to Delhi. Many people prefer to fly to and from Guwahati and then take a train to or from Naharlagun, despite the time-consuming nature of the journey, as it is far more economical.
In addition to Donyi Polo, intra-state connectivity should also be improved. Air services to Pasighat and Tezu should be initiated in earnest, with more flights to connect the state to the rest of the country. At present, these airports are underutilized, with citizens from the eastern parts of Arunachal still relying on the Dibrugarh airport in Assam.
Both the state and central governments must make better use of this infrastructure, extending its benefits to the public. The UDAN scheme, which connects remote destinations, should be further leveraged to enhance connectivity for this border state.