A game changer for Northeast

Operationalizing two international routes under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, as announced by the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia

Operationalizing two international routes under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, as announced by the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, connecting the Northeast with Bangladesh and Myanmar, will make dreams of people of the landlocked region flying directly to more destinations in neighbouring countries come true. The frontier region with 98% international borders currently has direct air connectivity only between Guwahati and Paro in Bhutan. Creating the demand for passengers both ways will be critical for sustainability of direct air connectivity to international destinations. The two new international routes proposed to be operationalized are Agartala-Chittagong-Agartala and Imphal-Mandalay-Imphal. International UDAN or International Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS) launched recently has paved the way for adding these two international routes to aviation sector in the Northeast region. The objective of IACS is to enhance air connectivity from certain states of the country with selected international destinations to promote socio-economic growth. This scheme is supported by state governments of Assam, Manipur and Tripura. These three state governments have identified routes connecting Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala with selected international destinations such as Bangkok in Thailand, Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kathmandu in Nepal, Yangon in Mandalay in Myanmar, Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam. Inauguration of operation of three flights connecting five states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram - under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN has boosted domestic air connectivity within the region. Of these three flights one flight will connect Imphal and Aizawl five times a week, one will connect Lilabari in Assam with Ziro and operate twice a week and the third will operate between Shillong and Lilabari four times a week. These will facilitate faster movement of people of the region from one state to another and boost business, trade and tourism. The UDAN scheme launched in 2016 facilitates cheaper travel with airfare capped at Rs 2,500 for an hour's flight in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, which has increased sustainability of these flights in the region. Special emphasis by the Central government on improving air connectivity in the region is visible but aspiration is for faster pace in connecting the region with more international destinations and smooth connectivity within the region. Official data shows that in the last eight years, seven airports have been developed in the Northeast and under UDAN scheme, 14% routes have been awarded to the region. Under UDAN 4.2, about 18% routes have been awarded to the Northeast. Dedication of Rs 500 crore corpus for the air-connectivity of the region has facilitated infrastructure development. India's deepening relations with ASEAN countries, besides Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan under the Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First Policy, has created the confidence for direct air connectivity. Successful operationalization of the proposed direct flights to Chittagong and Mandalay will attract more international flyers from ASEAN and neighbouring countries, including investors, industrialists, businessmen, tourists which in turn will generate demand for direct flights connecting destinations in the Northeast with destinations in these countries. The Northeast having some of the prime tourism destinations in the world, promotion of these destinations in a big way in these countries will go a long way towards generating the demand for flight tickets in these direct flights, making their operation economically viable. Sustainability of these direct international flights from the Northeast will end the paradoxical situation of the people from the region being required to fly or travel out of the region first to Kolkata or Delhi or other cities to fly to destinations which are located just on the other side of the international border and at much lesser distance. It will also shape new perception of the region as a happening place and ideal destination for trade, commerce and people-to-people exchange. Indigenous communities in the Northeast region having cultural similarities and food habits with ASEAN and neighbouring countries, faster connectivity will help create the ecosystem for the region to unlock its untapped potential by exploring markets of its organic farm produce, unique handloom and handicraft items, and attract potential investors to set up manufacturing units and create jobs and livelihood for lakhs of unemployed people in the region. Creation of livelihood will also reverse the migration of unemployed youth to other states outside the region in search of greener pastures and this will help strengthening state economies. People with surplus income will be able to purchase goods and commodities produced locally which will boost demand for local production, making commercial and entrepreneurial ventures sustainable and gradually the over-dependence of the region for most essential commodities will reduce. Much will depend on the capacity and imagination of state governments as well as local communities in the region to make optimal utilization of all available resources and various government schemes and incentives to make things happen. Direct air connectivity of the region with neighbouring countries will be a game changer.

sentinel