The traffic from the metros and tier one cities still comprise a major chunk of air traffic. However, the government has enhanced efforts to spur air traffic at airports in tier two and three cities.
In addition, there are efforts being made through policy interventions and providing of incentives to spur traffic in regions with low air traffic such as North Eastern parts of India. As part of the government’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme – an airline is entitled to receive funds from the government in the form of viability gap funding (VGF) if a fixed number of seats on the flight are sold at a fare of up to Rs 2,500.
It is expected that UDAN, the inexpensive regional air connectivity will enable travellers across India and especially North East to save time and allow people in hilly and inhospitable terrains to take their first flight. To provide a major boost to air connectivity in the Northeast, 92 new routes will be opened in the region in the second round of the government’s ‘UDAN’ scheme.
However, the mere lowering of air tickets will not spur travellers to take to the skies. It has to be accompanied by enhanced economic and industrial development so that people’s financial capacity to travel by air receives a fillip.
Fortunately, the government is taking extensive steps to spur economic and industrial development across the North East. Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs extended tax benefits for industrial units in the North East till March 2027. This is expected to provide a fillip to corporate houses to set up their manufacturing and industrial facilities in the North East thereby spurring economic growth and enhancing income levels.
Comprising eight per cent of India’s area and three per cent of the nation’s population, the North East is truly a paradise on earth in terms of natural beauty and therefore could be developed into a top-notch tourist destination. It is an enchanting land of undulating hills and plains with luxuriant green cover and a wide variety or rare and exotic flora and fauna. With adequate tourism related infrastructure and enhanced transport options such as air connectivity – this region could emerge as India’s numero uno leisure destination and thereby create numerous tourism related jobs.
Jumping on to the bandwagon of growth, airlines such as Jet Airways have introduced flights from key metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, to cities in North East like Bagdogra, Silchar and Jorhat.
The seven North Eastern states or sometimes referred to as the ‘Land of the Seven Sisters’ is culturally rich and diverse with immense potential for development due to high literacy levels. Although geographically separated, it is an extremely important part of the nation and therefore any effort to enhance travel links between North East and Mainland India should be encouraged. Enhanced air connectivity could therefore emerge as a vital bond in bringing the unexplored North East into the travel itinerary of the average Indian.
