30 airports, airstrips up for bidding in NE

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: The civil aviation ministry on Friday said bids have been sought for six underserved and 24 un-served airports and airstrips in the Northeast region under the latest round of the regional air connectivity scheme.
The fourth round of bidding under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) or regional air connectivity
scheme commenced on 3 December. UDAN seeks to connect un-served and underserved airports, as well as make flying more affordable.
“With focus on connectivity of northeastern region, UDAN 4.0 scheme under the ministry of civil aviation has invited bids for six underserved and 24 un-served airports/airstrips in the Northeast states of India,” an official release said.
The underserved airports and airstrips on the list are in Pasighat and Tezu (Arunachal), Jorhat, Rupsi and Tezpur (Assam), and Shillong (Meghalaya).
As per the release, there are 24 underserved aerodromes in the region, spread across Arunachal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Among them are Alinya, Aalo, Daporijo, Mechuka, Tuting, Vijoynagar, Walong, Yingkiong and Ziro in Arunachal.
The ministry aims to make operational 1,000 routes and more than 100 airports in the next five years, as per the release. (PTI)