Arunachal Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today discussed issues related to poor air connectivity in the state with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and suggested several crucial proposals.
"Since our state does not have wide rail network or waterways, roads become the only link for communication. But, the difficult terrain over which these roads run, make travel very difficult," Pul said during a meeting with the Minister at New Delhi.
He stressed on air connectivity saying it was the only viable alternative and the most obvious candidate for serious planning and investment, an official release said here.
Impressing upon the urgency to establish a civilian airport at Itanagar, Pul said "It is a great irony that we are today perhaps the only state in the entire country, which does not have a functional civilian airport with any commercial airline operations.
In absence of air connectivity, development of the state has been getting hampered, Pul said.
Raju agreed to depute a team of officer from the Centre for site visit to start work for a civilian airport in the state capital, the release said.
In the interim, Pul urged the Union Minister that Air India/Alliance Air commence regular flights to Lakhimpur and Tezpur in neighbouring Assam thrice a week.
The state government through NEC support would enter into a Viability Gap Funding agreement with the airlines, he said adding, the government would prescribe a subsidised fare and the gap for operational cost would be met through NEC support.
Pul said the eight Advance Landing Grounds (ALG) at Ziro, Aalo, Mechukha, Pasighat, Walong, Vijaynagar and Tezu should be allowed for dual use to enable effective connectivity, which would also give a boost to tourism and economic development.
Also to increase air connectivity, the Chief Minister said the state government has plans to connect all district headquarters and important tourism destinations by helicopter services.
"This will not only facilitate travel of passengers and tourists, but will be of great use in case of evacuation of patients, for use by the NDRF and SDRF during disasters and also by law enforcement agencies," he said.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin and Resident Commissioner Geetanjali Gupta during the meeting, the release added.
