Itanagar, Jun 6: Arunachal Pradesh Tourism minister P D Sona on Friday met Civil Aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha at the national capital to press for daily fixed-wing flights to Mechuka under the Centre’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
Currently accessible only via irregular helicopter services that are heavily dependent on weather, Mechuka remains cut off for much of the year. Sona highlighted the urgent need for dependable, year-round air connectivity to support the local population and unlock the area’s tourism potential.
“A daily flight to Itanagar will not only improve lives but also boost tourism in this strategically located region,” the minister said, expressing the state’s commitment to extend all necessary support in terms of infrastructure and facilitation.
Following the meeting, secretary Sinha directed Civil Aviation director Sankesh Mehta to engage with airlines and initiate the bidding process for the Mechuka-Itanagar sector under UDAN.
The discussion also touched on the long-pending clearance of the Mechuka Civil Terminal.
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security deputy director general Pratibha Ambedkar assured that the issue would be prioritised for early resolution.
If cleared, the proposed air link is expected to mark a turning point in Arunachal’s civil aviation network by integrating Mechuka—one of the state’s most remote and strategically significant regions—more closely with the national mainstream.
