Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 10: MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal popularly known as JTN met Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) SpiceJet Limited and discussed possibilities to operate civil flights to Kargil and Nubra valleys.
JTN appealed Ajay Singh to consider operating civil flights to Thoise in Nubra valley which may improve lives of people in those areas and will also boost tourism and rural economy of Ladakh.
Earlier, JTN had repeatedly raised the matter of Civil Flight Operations in Kargil and Nubra valleys in Parliament during session after which the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation approached the private airline SpiceJet Limited seeking support to operate civil flights in remote Kargil and Nubra valleys of Ladakh with aim to improve lives in these areas and boost tourism and rural economy of the people in Ladakh.
Union Ministry of for Civil Aviation in a written reply confirmed that Kargil airport, owned by Indian Air Force (IAF), has been earmarked for development and for operating RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) flights in the subsequent rounds of bidding under the UDAN scheme.
An allocation of Rs. 9.20 crore has been sanctioned by the Government for the development of airport.
Despite route cancellations from previous UDAN rounds, Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighted that if any airline submits a valid bid connecting Kargil with other airports, it will be considered under the UDAN scheme.
The Minister in a letter to JTN wrote that Thoise airport in Nubra is available for bidding under RCS-UDAN scheme no routes connecting Thoise airport was awarded due to the lack of bids from airlines.
“The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought 10 acres of land for Thoise airport’s development of which IAF offered 5 acres and AAI has accepted this proposal to develop a Civil Enclave with 5300 sq.m Terminal Building once the land is handed over.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
