The Assam Tribune online
Guwahati, Saturday, July 9, 2005
DoNER plan for new airline in NE
NEW DELHI, July 8 In a move aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity, Ministry Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sponsored a proposal for setting up a dedicated airline for North Eastern Region (NER) in the joint venture.
The proposal came after Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States (NES) voiced strong concern about the connectivity problem in the region at the meeting of the reconstituted North Eastern Council (NEC) held in Shillong last month. The members were of the view that only means of dependable transport to the NER would be by way of aircraft service with small fixed-wing STOL aircrafts based in the region, Minister DoNER said.
The Council has already given in principle approval to the NEC to take up the matter with the concerned ministries, the Minister said.
In keeping with the mood of the Council, Kyndiah who is also chairman of the NEC yesterday wrote a letter to Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel emphasising the need for augmenting air connectivity in the region.
A beginning can be made with two turbo-prop (STOL) aircraft with seating capacity of 40-50 passengers. The first priority should be to provide connectivity between the State capitals with other airports in the region. These aircraft can be stationed at Guwahati. This would help in promoting border trade, marketing of perishables connecting proposed growth centres and tourism centres, besides removing the psychological feeling of isolation, the Minister argued.
Claiming that his proposal was well received in the Civil Aviation Ministry, Kyndiah said that the idea was to make operational, the nine non-operational airports in the region. The Turbo-prop aircrafts are capable of operating on rough patch, he added.
The Minister has suggested that the airline would set up in joint venture with private participation. Two private air operators have already approached us, the Minister added.
The introduction of the new regional air service also may mark the end of the helicopter service operated by Paban Hans. In the aftermath of several accidents in the region, a sense of insecurity has gripped air passengers. Besides Paban Hands does not even have maintenance facilities in the region. All their copters have to go to Mumbai for maintenance, the Minister explained.
Elaborating the Minister said that solution to the communication gap lay in having a dedicated airline in the joint venture. The NEC on behalf of the NES can have an equity holding of 51 percent with the remaining 49 percent in the private sector. The policy control should remain with the NEC while the private management can handle the actual operations, he said.
The turbo prop aircrafts have low operational cost and to make the operation viable, some additional incentives are required to be provided in consultation with Ministry of Civil Aviation for supply of air turbine fuel at international rates, abolition of Sales Tax on ATF, reduction in the landing and parking charges and passenger service fee at airports, the Minister opined.
When asked about the fate of the regional air service operated by Alliance Air, the Minister said that it would stay, while new service would be an addition.
The strength of the proposal was based on the possibility of the reopening of nine non-operational airports across the region besides setting up of four new ones at Itanagar, Tura, Kohima and Perkyong taking the total number of airports to 24.
Meanwhile, Kydiah yesterday met Chief Minister, Shiela Dikshit, and urged her to expedite the allocation of land for the construction of a 1000-room hostel in Delhi for students hailing from region. The Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes also accompanied him.
The Minister said that NEC was willing to provide funds for the land while the NES would be requested to chip in for construction of the hostel. However, the problem is of availability of land, he said.
Smt. Dikshit assured the Minister that she would take-up the matter with Delhi Development Authority and Delhi University for this purpose. Construction of hostels for students of the region has become essential, the Minister said.
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