NEW DELHI, Nov 16 � The Civil Aviation Ministry has passed the buck on to the airlines over using Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport as a hub of operations.
The LGBI Airport is equipped with all passenger amenities for both domestic and international operations and could be used to meet any emergency, considering the strategic importance of North Eastern region, said Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel in a Rajya Sabha reply to a question from Silvius Condpan.
However, using this airport as a hub is to be decided by the airlines based on their own commercial interests, he added.
Meanwhile, in reply to a separate question, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Bijoy Krishna Handique said that Government of India has accorded priority to the improvement of connectivity to the region, including the capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has reported that the Route Dispersal Guidelines have been laid down to better regulate air transport services of different regions of the country. In Arunachal Pradesh, a green field airport is planned at an estimated cost of Rs 989 crore.
