The government has been trying its best to increase regional air connectivity in Northeastern states. Hence, taking a step forward, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flagged off the flight operations of Alliance Air in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Alliance Air will start its flight operations between Lilabari, Ziro, Shillong, Imphal, and Mizoram. Chief Minister Sarma termed it a significant day as the Alliance Air operations will lead to greater air connectivity in the North East, particularly between the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Manipur. 


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"I consider the launch of these air operations not just an extension of airline routes but more importantly a futuristic gesture, which will go a long way in promoting people-to-people contact, tourism, and trade," he said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the occasion thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that due to his policy of 'Transformation through Transportation,' the North Eastern states have witnessed unprecedented improvement in the connectivity sector in the last eight years." 


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Lilabari in the Lakhimpur district is an important corridor to the North Eastern states. The airport is a corridor to several tourist places as the State government for the development of the airport has already handed over 84 acres of land for the construction of a basic strip and isolation bay," he said. Sarma also said that under Prime Minister`s initiative with the help of the UDAN scheme all important cities of the North East have been brought together under the regional connectivity scheme. 


"Moreover, under his leadership work for a new terminal at LGBI airport has been undertaken by the government and the work has made tremendous progress. Rupsi airport in Western Assam which remained defunct since 1984, has been redeveloped under the UDAN scheme and has been in operation since May last year," the Chief Minister added. Sarma further said that today the North East is fuelling India's aviation growth. 


The industry has achieved a milestone that was unthinkable a few years ago. With the UDAN scheme in force, aircraft movement in the North East from August 2017 to August 2022 rose to 7973 flights, which is an increase of 36 percent, higher than the growth rates in the East, West, North, and South zones. The Chief Minister also exuded confidence that under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister and Union Civil Aviation Minister Assam and North East will receive more impetus in the aviation sector in the future. He also thanked Alliance Air for starting the new flight operations in the region. 


Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation V.K. Singh, CM Manipur N. Biren Singh, CM Meghalaya Conrad Sangma, CM Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, CEO Alliance Air Vineet Sood attend the flag off ceremony virtually from their respective places. Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha, and Commissioner Transport Adil Khan were also present on the occasion. 


(With inputs from ANI)