SHILLONG, June 26 (IANS): Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi Sunday said his ministry is considering buying smaller aircraft to improve connectivity in the Northeast India.
"Our long term plan is to improve connectivity in the region. A proposal is in our mind to acquire 26-seater aircraft to connect all (northeastern) state capitals," Vayalar Ravi told IANS.
He added that discussions were on with Development of North Eastern Region Minister B.K. Handique.
"If any private players wants to operate in the region, we will allow them," he added.
Ravi, who inaugurated the new terminal building of Shillong airport in Meghalaya Saturday, said his ministry had decided to make Assam's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport a regional aviation hub.
"We have decided to build two hangars and aircraft repairing yards at the Guwahati airport," Ravi said.
The hub is expected to be operational early next year. The central government has proposed builting 12 new airports in the region in addition to the existing 11 airports.
