
The Act East Policy of the NDA government has brought significant improvements in air connectivity to Northeast India. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, “Strategic initiatives of the government have been benefitting a lot to the region after launching new flight routes.” It improves trade, tourism, and travel across the region by fostering stronger national connections.
Improving Air Connectivity in Northeast India
One of the notable initiatives for the Act East Policy is developing air connectivity with the Northeast states. The Centre has taken upon itself to enhancing air connectivity from the Northeast while the Ministry of Civil Aviation operates a dedicated scheme that provides viability gap funding on airlines such as Alliance Air with the focus mainly on connecting underserved destinations in that region, quite crucial for regional development.
Recently, during a ceremony to mark the inauguration of three new flights under this initiative, Naidu pointed out that the significance attached by the Government to these initiatives in boosting connectivity to Northeast India has become significant. The new flights would be between Imphal, the capital city of Manipur and key cities such as Kolkata, Guwahati and Dimapur.
Manipur: Growing Regional Development
New air routes are going to bring in many benefits for the region, especially for Manipur. As said by Minister Naidu, “I fully believe that additional air connectivity to Manipur shall contribute to increase trade, tourism, and traveling in the State.” These flight routes will reduce the time taken while traveling with greater access in both business and pleasure travel.
Naidu appreciated the collaborative effort between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Manipur government. He credited Manipur’s Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, whose efforts made this flight possible. This collaboration epitomizes the “double engine government” that has been established to accelerate the growth of Northeast India through improved connectivity and governance.
Double Engine Government: The Road to Progress
The double engine government referred to coordination of both the center and the state governments that together would deliver development in the region.” Naidu said all this was fruiting because the people of Manipur and the Northeast as a whole were witnessing fruits of Act East policy because it had caused better infrastructural facilities and growth in the economic sector of this region with integration of the region into the remaining part of the country.
Rise of Airports in the Northeast Region
In the last decade, the number of operational airports in the Northeast region has increased significantly. Naidu said that from nine airports in 2014, the number has increased to 19 now. The reason behind this boom is directly because of the government’s initiative towards better air connectivity under the Udaan scheme, which would make air travel more accessible to underserved areas.
Also, Udaan has operationalised 10 airports and two heliports in the Northeast. Helicopter routes have also been added under this scheme, and today, 12 new routes operate in the region. Such connectivity is bridging the gaps between the most remote and urbanised parts of the country; it helps both the people move within the regions and across the country.
Air Connectivity for Sikkim:
The most notable achievement in the Udaan scheme is that it integrated Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim into the national air network. These states were devoid of proper air connectivity, which was a source of inconsistent connectivity; today, they are reaping the economic and social integration through scheduled flights.
These routes, Naidu said, were areas of focus for development because good connectivity precedes trade, education, health, and tourism.
Investment in Infrastructure
The government has made monumental investment in airport infrastructure in the Northeast. Over Rs 500 crore has been allocated for developing airports and heliports in the region to add comfort facilities and raise the frequency of flights. This investment is crucial to support the fast-changing demand for air travel in Northeast India, with many visitors from other states and abroad due to business ventures, education, and tourism.
Act East Policy: Paving the Way for Northeast India’s Bright Future
The Act East Policy and the government’s efforts in the form of enhanced infrastructure through schemes like Udaan are making air connectivity for Northeast India on a steady upward trajectory. Improved flight routes and airport developments in the region promise growth in trade, tourism, and connectivity. These initiatives show the government’s commitment to bringing Northeast India closer to the rest of the country, offering new opportunities for its people and businesses.
Northeast India is said to be set for a great future with strong infrastructure development and regional cooperation.
Refer :
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For more updates on the latest developments in the Aviation sector, check out our article on Satna Airport gets DGCA license: New chapter for air connectivity for Madhya Pradesh