Big tourism boost for Guwahati: Airport gets Rs 1,200-cr revamp, to become a heli hub

NEW DELHI: In a major boost to the tourism sector in Northeast region, Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Dr Mahesh Sharma on Wednesday said that the Guwahati airport is being revamped at an investment of Rs 1,200 crore to improve connectivity in the region.

Planning to make Guwahati a hub to provide better connectivity in Northeast, the minister said that a helicopter hub in association with Pawan Hans services is being created in the capital city.

Signalling government's stand on tourism promotion in Northeast region, he said that connectivity in northeast remains a high priority for the centre in order to promote tourism in this part of the country.

Other than being a tourism hub, Guwahati has also been selected among 6 Northeastern cities under the Development of Solar Cities Programme of the union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). The six northeastern cities are Guwahati and Jorhat in Assam, Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and Agartala in Tripura.

The Union Minister was speaking at the launch of curtain raiser ceremony of International Tourism mart (ITM) for the North East region which is scheduled to take place during 14- 16 October 2015 in Gangtok.

Dr Sharma invited all stake holders from travel and tourism industry to participate in the 4th ITM, Gangtok.


(With Agencies inputs)