Agartala, Dec 08, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Dec 08: To provide short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather, the former Chief Minister and presently the Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday demanded the Centre to start Instrument Landing System (ILS) here at Agartala MBB Airport.

Deb raised the demand during the ongoing Rajya Sabha session on Friday. During the session, MP Biplab Kumar Deb stressed on the need of ILS at Agartala MBB airport and said that due to bad weather conditions, sometimes several flights need to be diverted to other parts for safe landing.

He said the state-of-the-art MBB airport is presently running under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), but present updation of the Airport Lighting System (ALS) system is causing some complications and hindrance to the emergency landing of the aircrafts in the airport.

He mentioned that operation of ILS in the airport will ensure safe landing of the aircrafts during any emergency cases as the ILS comes with better and enhanced guidance and direction techniques. The trial phase of the ILS has already been completed and is now awaiting approval for its operation, he informed the house.

He sought the intervention of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start the ILS soon at Agartala MBB airport.

On the other hand, MP Biplab Kumar Deb drew the attention of the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding the construction of overbridges in the ongoing project works of Agartala-Akhaura rail link.

Regarding the abolition of the post of Governor from the entire country as demanded by the MP Dr V.Sivadasan from Kerala, Deb opposed it and said that the role of the Governor in establishing close communication between the Center and the State in the parliamentary system is undeniable.