Air connectivity in NE to get a boost
From Our Spl Correspondent
 NEW DELHI, Sept 11 – At least two private air operators are likely to run dedicated regional air services in the North-east, it was announced today. Briefing members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Civil Aviation at Kolkata yesterday, Director General of Civil Aviation informed that in the Winter Schedule there was going to be an increase of 49 frequencies of flights in the North Eastern Region.

The Government has further granted initial NoC last month to Sky King Aviation to operate scheduled air services exclusively within the North-east Region. The airlines has initial plan to operate air services to and from Agartala, Aizwal, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Leelabari, Silchar, Dimapur, Imphal, S! hillong and Tura.

The other proposal also under consideration of the Government is from Surya Air for non-scheduled operations with short haul feeder air services in the North-east Region. The airline has plans to provide air connectivity to Agartala, Aizwal, Bagdogra, Dimapur, Imphal, Leelabari and Silchar, official sources said.

The meeting that focused on the development of aviation infrastructure in the East and the North-east was not without controversy as the North East MP’s Forum last month strongly lodged a protest with the Prime Minister pointing out that the venue should have been in the North-east.

During the10th Five Year Plan AAI will spend about Rs. 125 crores on modernization, upgradation and improvement of facilities in the North-east Region. The works are in progress for extension and strengthening of runway at Silchar, Dibrugarh and Guwahati airports.

Officials reported that the sites for construction of Greenfield airport near Kohima and Itanagar have been identified for construction of airport for ATR-72 operation. The consultant has been appointed by AAI for preparation of Detailed Project Report for airport near Kohima. Consultant was being appointed for the airport near Itanagar.

AAI has also prepared detailed project report for construction of a Greenfield airport in Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs. 340 crores. Government of Sikkim has requested AAI to take up this work as deposit work and assured to provide Rs. 100 crores along with the required land.

AAI is making consistent efforts to develop and augment the Communication Navigation System (CNS) Infrastructure for meeting the growing demand of aviation activities and in the North-eastern part of the country. The future projects of AAI in the region are radar replacement at Guwahati; ILS Lilabari and Silchar; DVOR at Dimapur and Lengqui in Aizwal.

Aircraft movement in the North-Eastern region in 2005-06 has gone upto 34036 registering a 3.11 percent increase over the previous year. Passenger traffic in this region registered a 11.9 percent growth during the year, and cargo traffic, a growth of 6.8 percent.