Centre to rename Agartala airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram

AGARTALA: The Centre on Tuesday decided to rename the Agartala airport in Tripura after Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore, tribal icon and architect of modern Tripura.
The Maharaja, who ascended the throne of the erstwhile princely state of Tripura in 1923, had donated land on which an aerodrome was constructed in 1942. He had also taken an active interest in building the aerodrome which later became the Agartala airport, which is the second busiest airport in the North-east now.
"This two-day visit of mine to New Delhi will always be memorable because the Union civil aviation minister has decided to rename the Agartala airport.Moreover, with the roadblock now cleared for the repatriation of Bru refugees, a 21-year deadlock has been broken. These decisions show that the BJP government always keeps its promises and fulfils the aspirations of the people," Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb told TOI. "I have also also held discussions with the Union ministers on development projects that can be undertaken in Tripura. I am honoured to see smiles on the faces of the people. During my visit, I also met former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in AIIMS," he added.