Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tripura’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala will launch a 24-day Yatri Seva Abhiyan from September 17 to October 10, with a focus on passenger assistance, accessibility, cleanliness, service quality and promotion of Tripura’s local culture, airport director Krishna Mohan Nehra said on Wednesday.
The airport has also implemented Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) to facilitate safe aircraft operations during periods of poor visibility, while a 1,600-kilowatt solar plant is being added to its existing 250-kilowatt capacity, the director said.
Nehra said the additional solar capacity would take the airport’s total planned solar capacity to about 2,000 kilowatts and contribute to energy conservation and carbon savings.
The director said the airport would also extend its operating hours when required to facilitate flights affected by weather-related diversions. He said the focus was on ensuring that passengers did not suffer inconvenience and flights landed safely.
The Yatri Seva Abhiyan will begin on September 17 with a Vande Mataram recitation involving airport stakeholders, including the Airports Authority of India, CISF and airlines.
Passengers arriving at the airport will be welcomed by volunteers, while local folk artistes will perform in the arrival area.
Under the campaign, the airport will provide voluntary assistance to passengers, particularly senior citizens and those requiring help with baggage or movement. Assistance will be available from the airport entrance through check-in and security to the boarding gate.
The airport will also highlight facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, including designated seating, wheelchair availability, accessible toilets, tactile signage and contact points for assistance. Staff will be deployed at check-in and security-hold areas to guide first-time flyers through the airport.
The campaign will include activities showcasing Tripura’s local art, music and handicrafts. On September 27, World Tourism Day, local products will be displayed through self-help groups, with the airport providing space for them to showcase and sell their products without charging them, the director said.
The airport’s Udaan Yatri Cafe, which offers tea at Rs 10, samosa at Rs 15 and a sweet item at Rs 20, will also be monitored for hygiene and quality, he said.
Alongside the passenger campaign, Swachhata Hi Seva will run from September 17 to October 2. Activities will include cleanliness drives, waste segregation awareness, exposure visits for students and youth to waste-management facilities, health check-ups for housekeeping staff, plantation drives and recycling initiatives.
The director said an intensive hygiene audit of the terminal, particularly toilets, would be conducted on October 2.
The campaign will conclude on October 10 with recognition of airport, airline and housekeeping personnel for their service during the period.
According to officials, the airport has secured sixth position in terms of customer satisfaction ratings. “These ratings are calculated upon 34 total parameters,” he explained.