Question : AIR CONNECTIVITY

(a) whether the Government has received proposals for introduction of new flights from various places in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereon along with the new routes, if any, identified for the purpose, location-wise;

(c) whether the deregulation of operations of flights in domestic sector has led/is leading to lesser development in some areas of the country; and

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI K. C. VENUGOPAL)

(a) and (b): At present scheduled air services are available to/from 76 destinations (Annexure-I) hi the country as per the approved summer schedule 2013. Operations in domestic sector have been deregulated and flights are being operated by concerned airlines on the basis of commercial viability subject to adherence to Route Dispersal Guidelines laid down by Government in 1994 with a view to ensure better connectivity to remote regions of the country. .

(c) and (d): The Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) issued by Government have enhanced air connectivity in different parts of the country including North Eastern region, Jammu and Kashmir, An dm an & Nicobar island and Lakshdweep Island. However, it has also been observed that the air connectivity has largely been confined to a few airports in these regions. The Government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Shri Rohit Nandan on the issue of air connectivity. The committee suggested various long term and short term recommendations which have been examined in consultations with stakeholders.

The Government had also engaged an expert consulting agency to assist in implementing the relevant recommendations of Rohit Nandan Committee.