Rupsi Airport
Rupsi Airport (IATA: RUP, ICAO: VERU) is an airport located in Rupsi (about 8.6km from Gauripur town) situated at Kokrajhar district near the border of Dhubri district of Assam.[1]
Rupsi Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Govt. of India | ||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Location | Rupsi, Kokrajhar district, Bodoland, Assam, India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 40 m / 131 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°08′28″N 089°54′24″E | ||||||||||
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  RUP Location of the airport in India  RUP RUP (India) | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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This airport serves as a way for people of the lower part of Assam to travel to India's major cities and states. The airport also serves as a layover for those traveling to the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Ultapani Reserve Forest, Manas National Park, Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar District, and the Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal.
History
The Rupsi Airfield was constructed by the British during World War II to supply arms, manpower, and ammunition to the Allied forces. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces Tenth Air Force in the China Burma India Theater. Regional airline Vayudoot was used to operate services to the airport in the 1980s but they withdrew services. The airport stopped functioning in 1984, after which the State government made unsuccessful attempts to revive the airport with the joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the North Eastern Council (NEC).[4] The World War II era airstrip has remained defunct since the 1980s. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have begun work to revive the airfield which is expected to be operational from December 2019.[5] Civil operations to the airport will begin under the Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme.[6]
The newly-launched domestic airlines FlyBig started their operations in the Northeast region on 8 May 2021. Initially, the flight services used to connected Rupsi to both Guwahati and Kolkata Airports only. In due course, other destinations of the Northeast will be covered. On 5 May 2021, FlyBig Airlines conducted a successful trial of its flight at Rupsi Airport. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal along with BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary had laid the foundation stone of the project on 22 February 2019.[7] An estimated cost of Rs. 70 crore was spent to make the airport suitable for the operation of ATR-72 type of aircraft, including a 3,500 square meter terminal building. The infrastructure for the airport was made ready by October 2019.[5] The AAI and IAF will jointly develop the airport for both civil and military operations. The IAF is also evaluating the feasibility of extending the runway to 10,000 feet to enable the operation of fighter aircraft.[6]
Facilities
- The airport covers an area of 447 acres (181 ha) at an elevation of 131 feet (40 m) above mean sea level. It has one paved runway designated 05/23 which measures 6,000 by 150 feet (1,829 m × 46 m).[1]
References
- Rupsi Airport at Airports Authority of India
- Airport information for Rupsi, India (ICAO: VERU) at Great Circle Mapper.
- Airport information for Rupsi Airport at Transport Search website.
- "Centre nod to reopen Rupshi Airport". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- "Bengal hope soars on Assam airport". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 27 October 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- "Work to revive Rupsi airport begins". The Assam Tribune. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- "Sonowal lays foundation for revival of World War II-era Rupsi airport". The Shillong Times. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- "Air connectivity boost under UDAN! Rupsi Airport in Assam to start operations from Saturday". www.financialexpress.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.