5 Interesting Facts About Arunachal’s Hollongi Airport

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the airport on Saturday

It is a historic day for Arunachal Pradesh today. The state will get its first greenfield airport, the Donyi Polo Airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be inaugurating the airport that holds a lot of hope and promise for the people of the frontier state bordering China and the region. The new airport is located only 15 kilometres from Itanagar, the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Great Hornbill Gate, which welcomes you to iconic Donyi Polo airport, is an architectural marvel.

Made of bamboo and cane, it's been designed by promising Arunachali architect Aroty Panyang from East Siang district.

Glad to have inaugurated the gate today. pic.twitter.com/b71jueQJKc

— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) November 16, 2022

Prior to the Donyi Polo airport, the state had three airports: Pasighat in East Siang district, Tezu in Lohit district, and Ziro in Lower Subansiri district, which was closed last month.

Here are some interesting facts about the airport.

1. The name Donyi Polo reflects the Arunchali peoples’ age old reverence to Sun ‘Donyi’ and the Moon ‘Polo’. in Arunachal. Pradesh.

2. “The Great Hornbill Gate” at the entrance of the airport is made of bamboo and cane and is designed by Arunachali architect Aroty Panyang from East Siang district.

3. Built at a cost of Rs 646 crore, the airport has a capacity to accommodate 300 passengers during peak hours and handle B-737 and A – 320 type aircrafts.

Also Read : PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Donyi Polo airport tomorrow

4. The airport is equipped with ILS and CAT-I approach lighting system for all weather operations.

5. Initially, low-cost carriers IndiGo and FlyBig will operate flights from Hollongi. IndiGo will begin service on November 28th, with flights to Kolkata and Mumbai every day except Wednesday.

The airport, which was conceived in 2005, received preliminary approval in January 2019. It was finished in September of this year, and the Union Cabinet decided to rename it Donyi Polo Airport, after one of the major indigenous tribal faiths practised in the state.

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