Lok Sabha Question No. 374 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-18
Subject: Regular Flights for Agartala Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 374 (To be answered on the July 2019)

## REGULAR FLIGHTS FOR AGARTALA SECTOR

*374.

MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has taken any decision that no other airline barring Air India and Indigo Airlines would operate regular flights from Delhi to Agartala and vice-versa and if sO, the details thereof along with the reasons/grounds for not granting permission to operate any regular flight to and fro Agartala sector;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed any dateline to complete the work of new airport terminal building coming Up at Agartala and if the details thereof?
- (b) whether the Government has any plan to introduce new direct flight for the said sector from New Delhi, if the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor; and

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of House.

STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 374, REGARDING "REGULAR FLIGHTS FOR AGARTALA SECTOR" TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2019

(a): Sir. No,

(b): 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. Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines with a view to achieve better air transport services for 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:

However, Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN scheme on 21-10-2016 to facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses: Promoting affordability of regional air connectivity is envisioned under RCS UDAN by supporting airline operators through () concessions by Central Government, State Governments and airport operators to reduce the cost of airline operations on regional routes and (ii) financial support (Viability Funding) to meet the gap,if any, between the cost of airline operations and expected revenues on regional routes. RCS UDAN is demand driven and development of regional air connectivity routes depends o the market forces wherein airlines undertake assessment of demand and supply required on a particular route and participate in the bidding held from time to time In the third round of bidding bidding under RCS-UDAN, Agartala-Aizawl-Agartala was awarded to Mls Indigo. Gap

(c): The expected date for physical completion of the work of new airport terminal building coming up at Agartala is 31st December, 2019 and likely date of commissioning for start Of operations from new airport terminal building is 3st March 2020, as the same requires full scale trials of Heating; Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) System, Conveyor Belt etc apart from approval from Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and shifting of airlines hardware software systems etc to new location.