Question : Air Connectivity to North-Eastern Region

(a) whether the Union Government proposes to connect North-Eastern region by air under regional air connectivity scheme, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has any plan to revive the abandoned airports in Assam;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is any proposal to upgrade all the airports located in Assam and if so, the steps taken to start/increase air traffic in all the airports of Assam;and

(e) whether there is any proposal to start direct flights by Air India to Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam and if so, the details thereof?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a): Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN in October, 2016, to promote regional air connectivity in the country including North Eastern region.;
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(b) to (d): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for revival of 50 un-served / under-served airports / airstrips of the State Governments, Airports Authority of India and Civil enclaves at an estimate cost of Rs. 4500 crores, in three financial years starting from 2017-18. However, the revival of airstrips/airports will be ''demand driven'', depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as from the State Government for providing various concessions as Airports will be developed without insisting on financial viability.;
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(e): As per Winter Schedule-2016, Air India is operating 05 flights per week in Kolkata-Dibrugarh-Kolkata route and Alliance Air is operating 03 flights/week in Kolkata-Silchar-Tezpur-Silchar-Kolkata route.;
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With repeal of Air Corporation act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation was deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate. However, Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport service of different regions of the country. It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such, the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by Government.