National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) provides for promoting regional connectivity by way of revival of un-served and under-served airports/airstrips of state governments and Airports Authority of India (AAI). However, selection of cities under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) is to be 'demand driven', depending on firm demand from the airline operators and where the State Government agrees to provide various concessions envisaged in the Policy. There are approximately 16 under served and 394 unserved airports/airstrips in the country.
The NCAP envisages the Government to facilitate the development of at least four heli-hubs initially, across the country to promote regional connectivity. Ministry of Civil Aviation is to coordinate with MoF, MHA, NHAI, Indian Railways, insurance companies, hospitals, Pawan Hans Limited and other helicopter operators to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). Airport charges for helicopter operations are to be suitably rationalized. Further under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), operations through helicopters would be permitted among the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand, North Eastern Region of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands.
The Government has laid down route dispersal guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieving better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. The guidelines specifies that all scheduled operators are required to deploy in the North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand (Category-II routes) at least 10% of their deployed capacity on trunk routes (Category I routes). Further, at least 10% of the capacity thus required to be deployed on Category-II routes, is required to be deployed for connectivity exclusively within these regions. 50% of the capacity deployed on Category-I routes is to be deployed on routes other than Category-I and Category-II routes i.e. Category-III routes.
The Airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of RDG issued by Government. However, it is up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Jayant Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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