MBBA –
The Historical Airport
Udaipur, Tripura
Tripura is a small hilly state in the northeastern part of India. Today, the shining Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport stands as a point of pride for the people of Tripura. This airport was constructed by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, who is known as the architect of modern Tripura, in 1942.
Originally named Singarbil Airport, it began operations with a single runway: 05/23. In aeronautical terminology, the runway designation '05/23' indicates that one end is oriented 50 degrees from true north, while the other end is at 230 degrees. The direction of an airport's runway is determined based on the predominant wind patterns in the area, considering its geographic location.
Old airport
Agartala Airport was built during World War II, a significant chapter in world history marked by the power struggle between the Axis and Allied powers. Even in this quiet, green state, the impact of the war was felt. At that time, India was under British rule, aligned with the Allies, which included powerful nations like America, the Soviet Union, France, and China. During the war, the Allies turned their attention to this region, and the airport was constructed on royal land in Singarbil. The intention was to fully utilize it for attacks on Burma. Whether this use was willingly granted by the Maharaja or influenced by external political pressures remains unclear in historical accounts. Additionally, a team from the Tripura Army was deployed to assist the British forces.
In February-March 1943, Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons 31 and 134 quickly occupied Agartala Airport, swiftly setting up a base camp to supply weapons for a special operation in Burma known as the Chindit Operation. In 1944, these squadrons launched a second operation from this airport, engaging in fierce battles against the Japanese army in the Arakan mountain range. Following this, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) also established a base at Agartala Airport.
Curtiss C-46, Commando transport aircraft.
The first aircraft to take off from Agartala Airport was the Curtiss C-46, a commando transport aircraft. In December 1944 and January 1945, the American 4th Combat Cargo Group (4th CCG) conducted several attacks on Burma from this location. However, before these operations, the Japanese Air Force bombed Agartala Airport twice in 1943.
The outcomes of World War II are well known. Once global stability was achieved, India gained independence, effectively ending British rule. The 1355-year reign of 184 kings in Tripura—one of the longest in history—concluded on October 15, 1949, when India acceded. Approximately seventy years have passed since then, and the historic Agartala Airport has undergone significant transformations. The terminal building has been relocated slightly and now covers an area of 30,000 square meters.
Inside New Airport
Painting of Traditional Folk Dance of Tripura
Special moment
The airport has been renamed Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport and can accommodate up to 1,000 domestic and 200 international passengers on its busiest days, totalling around 3 million passengers annually. The newly integrated terminal building (NITB), constructed for 500 crore rupees, was inaugurated on January 4, 2022, by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. Today, it stands as the second busiest airport in the Northeast. Plans are underway to declare it an international airport shortly. If this happens, Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport will become the third international airport in the Northeast, following Guwahati and Imphal.