Guwahati: The Centre is planning to build an aerotropolis in Assam and has sought 2,000 acres from the state for the purpose, Union minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha on Monday said.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between him and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati for development of the civil aviation sector in the state, an official release said.

“Sinha proposed to build an aerotropolis in the state which would bring huge benefits to the region in terms of civil aviation and air connectivity," the statement said. He requested the chief minister to allot 2,000 acres an hour’s journey away from Guwahati city near Brahmaputra river.

“The chief minister assured all cooperation in this regard and said that it would be huge opportunity for the North East to open air links with the south east Asian countries," the release said. The North East has potential to be a growth engine of the country by opening road and air links with the south east Asian countries, the chief minister said and urged Sinha for starting direct flights on Guwahati-Bangkok and Guwahati-Singapore routes, which increase tourist inflow and trade activities.

An aerotropolis is an airport centric metropolitan hub, where infrastructure and economy are all based on the access to the airport serving as a commercial point like any traditional metropolis that contains a central city commercial core area and commuter-linked suburbs.

“Sinha also urged the chief minister for expediting the work of metro train in Guwahati so that access to proposed aerotropolis and airports can be improved. The chief minister apprised Sinha that the government is working on starting metro train in the city and it would be complete by the time the aerotropolis comes up in the next few years," the release said.

Sonowal requested Sinha for sending civil aviation ministry for aerial survey of the entire stretch of Brahmaputra river from Sadiya to Dhubri in the state with helicopter for identifying suitable locations to set up airports in the state.

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