GUWAHATI, June 9: The Opposition Congress has welcomed the Assam government’s decision to rename Dibrugarh airport after state’s cultural icon, Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, while urging the Centre to start evening flights from Dibrugarh in Upper Assam.
Attending the Assam Legislative Assembly’s special session here on Monday, convened to recommend renaming Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen Hazarika, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi termed the state government’s decision an appropriate tribute to one of Assam’s greatest cultural icons.
“Renaming Dibrugarh airport as ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika Airport’ is a befitting honour to Bhupen Hazarika who represented the soul of Assam’s heritage,” Gogoi said in his address.
The Congress leader however underlined the need to address the key issue of inadequate air connectivity, particularly during evening hours, from Dibrugarh.
“Lack of evening flights from Dibrugarh affects people during medical emergencies and urgent travel needs. As it is, air connectivity remains a major concern in Upper Assam. The absence of scheduled flights from Dibrugarh in the evening is a major hurdle for people and the region,” he said.
Acknowledging initiatives taken by the government in improving connectivity in parts of Upper Assam, the APCC president stressed the need for sustained and focused efforts, particularly in improving connectivity in remote areas.
Notably, the Dibrugarh Press Club had recently submitted a memorandum to Union civil aviation minister, KR Naidu, seeking the introduction of regular evening flights from Dibrugarh airport.
The memorandum highlighted Dibrugarh’s growing industrial and strategic relevance in Upper Assam and the Northeast, while pointing out that development and regional connectivity were hampered by lack of evening flights.
At the one-day Assembly session, Assam transport minister Jogen Mohan had moved the government resolution seeking to adopt a unanimous recommendation to the central government to rename the airport at Dibrugarh as ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika Airport.’
The Assam Cabinet had earlier decided to rename the airport after the music maestro as part of his birth centenary celebrations.
