Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday called for a special aviation policy for the Northeast, highlighting aviation as a key driver of development in the region and emphasizing the need to address its unique geographical and climatic challenges.

Speaking at the third North-East Aviation Summit and the North-Eastern Regional Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation, Khandu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decade-long focus on the region for improving infrastructure and connectivity in remote areas. Since 2014, Modi has visited the Northeast more than 60 times, supported by regular ministerial visits, underscoring the Centre’s focus on balanced regional growth.

Khandu expressed gratitude to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu for providing a platform for discussion on aviation policies. He also announced Modi’s upcoming visits to Guwahati on September 13 and Itanagar on September 22, highlighting continued government attention on the region.

The chief minister highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s aviation developments, including the Hollongi Greenfield Airport, operational airports at Pasighat and Tezu, revived facilities at Ziro, and the modernization of eight advanced landing grounds under the UDAN scheme.

Khandu proposed a “tailored Northeast aviation roadmap” with Guwahati as the central hub, supported by smaller airports at Tezu, Ziro, Mechuka, Vijaynagar, Silchar, and Ruksin. Key recommendations included higher viability gap funding for airlines, adoption of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) technology for safer operations in hilly terrain, promotion of short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft, and a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) network.

“The expansion of civil aviation is not just about faster travel but about saving critical time and enabling inclusive regional progress,” Khandu said.

The summit brought together ministers from Assam, Sikkim, and Mizoram, along with senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and aviation industry experts.