Question : Air Connectivity to North Eastern Region

(a) whether there is no air connectivity among the cities of the North- Eastern States in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to start commercial chopper services between the cities of the North-Eastern States;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the time by which a decision is likely to be taken in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has also consulted the private chopper companies in this regard and if so, the details along with the outcomethereof; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to boost air connectivity between various States of the country?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a): As per approved winter schedule 2015, Scheduled flights from the
following cities of the North-Eastern States (NES) are being operated by Scheduled domestic airlines:
Assam - Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Lilabari, Silchar,

Tezpur
Manipur - Imphal
Meghalaya - Shillong
Mezoram - Aizwal
Nagaland - Dimapur
Tripura - Agartala

(b) to (d): Various State Governments of NES have taken helicopter on lease from Pawan Hans Ltd. for providing Helicopter Services in the NE Region for connecting places in the States. The details of services operated by Pawan Hans Limited in various sectors under these lease
arrangements are at Annexure-I. The respective State Governments are running Helicopter Services for Passengers, under subsidy support from Government of India.

(e): Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. As such airlines are free to operate anywhere, depending upon their commercial viability, within the domestic routes subject to
compliance of RDG issued by the Government.