Civil aviation to get priority in NEC meeting

Agartala, May 16: The 54th North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting to be held in Aizwal on May 18-19 will discuss the introduction of a dedicated airline for NE states, official sources said here today.

Outlining the main agenda the sources said issues related to the region, including review of NEC and DoNER funded projects, and various developmental proposals would be discussed along with civil aviation issues.

Sources said NEC had reviewed its arrangements with Alliance Air and is in the process of inviting open expressions of interest for a dedicated airline for improving intra-region connectivity, especially between the capital cities of NE states.

It would also explore the possibility to extend connectivity between NE region and Nepal, Bhutan, Dhaka and Yangoon, sources added.

Presently, 11 airports in the region are operational while at least five more are proposed to be made operational during the 11th Plan, besides green field airports for Gangtok, Itanagar, Kohima, Tawang and Kokrajhar.

UNI