Rupsi Airport

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For the military use of this airport during World War II, see Rupsi Airfield.

Rupsi Airport
Rupsi airport, Assam, India.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovt. of India
OperatorAirports Authority of India
LocationRupsi, Kokrajhar district, Bodoland, Assam, India
Elevation AMSL40 m / 131 ft
Coordinates26°08′28″N 089°54′24″E / 26.14111°N 89.90667°E / 26.14111; 89.90667Coordinates: 26°08′28″N 089°54′24″E / 26.14111°N 89.90667°E / 26.14111; 89.90667
Map
RUP is located in Assam
RUP
RUP
Location of the airport in India
RUP is located in India
RUP
RUP
RUP (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 1,829 6,000 Asphalt
Source:,[1][2] STV[3]

Rupsi Airport (IATA: RUP, ICAO: VERU) is an airport located in Rupsi (about 8.6km from Gauripur town) situated at Kokrajhar district near the border of Dhubri district of Assam.[1]

This airport serves as a way for people of the lower part of Assam to travel to India's major cities and states. The airport also serves as a layover for those traveling to the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Ultapani Reserve Forest, Manas National Park, Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar District, and the Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal.

History[edit]

The Rupsi Airfield was constructed by the British during World War II to supply arms, manpower, and ammunition to the Allied forces. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces Tenth Air Force in the China Burma India Theater. Regional airline Vayudoot was used to operate services to the airport in the 1980s but they withdrew services. The airport stopped functioning in 1984, after which the State government made unsuccessful attempts to revive the airport with the joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the North Eastern Council (NEC).[4] The World War II era airstrip has remained defunct since the 1980s. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have begun work to revive the airfield which is expected to be operational from December 2019.[5] Civil operations to the airport will begin under the Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme.[6]

Rupsi Airport Runway

The newly-launched domestic airlines FlyBig started their operations in the Northeast region on 8 May 2021. Initially, the flight services used to connected Rupsi to both Guwahati and Kolkata Airports only. In due course, other destinations of the Northeast will be covered. On 5 May 2021, FlyBig Airlines conducted a successful trial of its flight at Rupsi Airport. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal along with BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary had laid the foundation stone of the project on 22 February 2019.[7] An estimated cost of Rs. 70 crore was spent to make the airport suitable for the operation of ATR-72 type of aircraft, including a 3,500 square meter terminal building. The infrastructure for the airport was made ready by October 2019.[5] The AAI and IAF will jointly develop the airport for both civil and military operations. The IAF is also evaluating the feasibility of extending the runway to 10,000 feet to enable the operation of fighter aircraft.[6]

Airlines and destinations[edit]

AirlinesDestinations
FlyBig Guwahati, Kolkata[8]

Facilities[edit]

  • The airport covers an area of 447 acres (181 ha) at an elevation of 131 feet (40 m) above mean sea level. It has one paved runway designated 05/23 which measures 6,000 by 150 feet (1,829 m × 46 m).[1]
  • Rupsi airport is also expected to reduce the passenger load on Bagdogra, which is bursting at the seams, particularly because expansion plans have not taken off as the state is yet to hand over more than 100 acres to the Centre for the extension of the terminal building and other infrastructure.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rupsi Airport at Airports Authority of India
  2. ↑ Airport information for Rupsi, India (ICAO: VERU) at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ↑ Template:STV
  4. ↑ "Centre nod to reopen Rupshi Airport". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bengal hope soars on Assam airport". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 27 October 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Work to revive Rupsi airport begins". The Assam Tribune. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Sonowal lays foundation for revival of World War II-era Rupsi airport". The Shillong Times. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Air connectivity boost under UDAN! Rupsi Airport in Assam to start operations from Saturday". www.financialexpress.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Choudhury, Anirban (26 October 2019). "Bengal hope soars on Assam airport". The Telegraph. India. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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