Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 23: Providing much-needed succor to the Ladakh, whose road connectivity with rest of the world remains cut-off for over six months, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has agreed to get the work on expansion of Leh Airport started from March next year and shortly fix airfare for the Ladakhis and the Government employees posted in the inhospitable region to be charged by all the airlines round the year without any fluctuation.
These and other significant decisions were taken in a high-level meeting held in the Ministry yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Civil Aviation, K N Srivastava and attended by Special Secretary Civil Aviation, S Machendranathan, Director General Civil Aviation, Arun Mishra, Chairman Airport Authority of India, V P Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and representative of Indian Air Force.
The Leh district was represented by Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Rigjin Spalbar, Deputy Commissioner, Simrandeep Singh and representatives of Ladakh Travel Trade Alliance.
According to the highly placed sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry, a decision has been taken to fix single line fair throughout the year for the Ladakh people and the Government employees posted in the region keeping in view the fact that during winter months region’s road connectivity with the rest of world remains cut off and people are forced to pay through their nose the hefty airfares.
Though the Ministry has given hints of fixing the fare between Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 yet the modalities in this regard would be worked out shortly so that during forthcoming winter people of Ladakh and Government employees would be able to avail the benefit, sources said while disclosing that Secretary Civil Aviation Ministry will convene meeting of airlines operating between Leh and Delhi in order to work out the minimum possible airfare.
At present seven flights are operating between Delhi and Leh every day while as there are only two flights from Jammu (on Monday and Friday) and one from Srinagar (on Wednesday) in a week. Due to inadequate number of flights the fare becomes beyond the reach of the Ladakhis and Government employees. During the peak tourist season, the fare of flights from Delhi to Leh reaches even Rs 30,000, which is almost equivalent to the fare of Delhi-Singapore and Delhi-London flights.
Sources disclosed that Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary also considered the request of the LAHDC Leh regarding start of work on expansion of Leh airport, the funds for which have already been made available. “The Ministry has directed the Airport Authority of India to start work positively in March-April next year”, sources said, adding “the AAI has also been asked to expand the airport strictly by using Ladakh architectural”.
“The Ministry has also agreed to depute a high-level team to assess the feasibility for construction of another airport at Leh in view of the strategic importance of the district bordering China”, sources said, adding “the team will also visit Zanskar area of Kargil, which remains cut off for months even within Ladakh region, in order to see the feasibility of construction of small airport there”. For the alternate airport in Leh, the Hill Council has already identified huge chunk of land at Likir Thang.
Taking note of AAI posting Director for Leh Airport only for one year on the ground of inhospitable terrain, the Civil Aviation Ministry directed the Airport Authority of India to take IAS or KAS officer of J&K on deputation for being posted as Director for the Leh Airport for a period of two years so that minor issues vis-à-vis flights and airport could be resolved within shortest possible time.
“The Ministry has also asked the Director General Civil Aviation to issue circular directing all the airlines to carry dead bodies to and fro Leh and even fix penalty amount for non-adherence to the directive in this regard”, sources said.
About the reduction in fare for other category of visitors, the Ministry, while pointing towards the report prepared for regional and remote area connectivity, said that unless the State Government reduces VAT on aviation fuel the Ministry would not be able to reduce its charges.
“At present, there is 21% VAT on the aviation fuel and if the same is reduced by the State to 4% the fare will come down considerably”, sources said while disclosing that CEC has already requested the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in this regard while as Deputy Commissioner has approached the Chief Secretary for the appropriate decision.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Jharkhand Government has reduced VAT on aviation fuel to 4% in order to promote Ranchi airport while as Punjab and Maharashtra Governments have taken similar decisions for Amritsar and Nasik airports.
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