Assam Eyes Aviation Boom CM Pushes for Faster Approval of Silchar Greenfield Airport

Assam has intensified its push to expand aviation infrastructure, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seeking expedited approval for the proposed Greenfield Airport at Silchar during a meeting with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in New Delhi on Thursday. Describing the meeting as "very productive," the Chief Minister said both leaders shared a common vision of transforming Assam into a major aviation and logistics hub for the Northeast. During the meeting held at the Union Minister's office in Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, the two sides reviewed the status of six proposed Greenfield airports in Assam at Silchar, Manas, Umrangso, Majuli, Diphu and Charaideo, along with a proposed heliport at Haflong.Sarma informed the Union Minister that

the Assam government has completed most of the preparatory work for the Silchar Greenfield Airport and urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to fast-track the approval process so that the project can move forward without delay.For the remaining proposed airports, both the Centre and the state agreed to accelerate the ongoing pre-feasibility studies to ensure the projects progress to the next stage at the earliest.The meeting also reviewed the ongoing expansion of Rupsi Airport, which has become an important regional aviation hub in western Assam.Highlighting the broader vision behind the state's aviation push, Sarma said the government's objective goes beyond improving air connectivity. He noted that the expansion of airport infrastructure would generate new economic opportunities, strengthen logistics networks, promote tourism and contribute to Assam's long-term development. The proposed Greenfield airports are expected to significantly improve regional connectivity, enhance access to remote areas and reinforce Assam's ambition of emerging as a major transportation and logistics gateway in Northeast India. The meeting was attended by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr K K Dwivedi, and Assam Bhawan Resident Commissioner Kavitha Padmanabhan.