V. AIZAWL SUMMIT ON AIR CONNECTIVITY – 18 MAY, 2007

S.No.
Actionable Points
Action Taken
1.

Specific milestones were tentatively decided for implementing the basic recommendation of the Sidhu Committee for selection of an operator for the proposed dedicated airline:
• 25th May 2007 – Issue of Public Notice inviting Expressions of Interest.
• 25th June 2007 – Last date for receipt of Expressions of
Interest.
• 15th July 2007 – Evaluation of technical and financial bids.

• 15th August 2007 – Awarding of contract to the party and announcement by Hon’ble P.M. about dedicated airlines in the North East.

NEC has initiated the process of establishing the Dedicated Airline.  However, only 2 invalid bids were received.

          In the 55th Meeting of North Eastern Council it has been decided to cancel the bidding process. It is further decided that the Bid document is to be re-examined and modified to invite participation. The bids are to be re-invited and the entire process may be completed by September 2008 so that the dedicated airline commences its operation from 1st January 2009. 

        
NEC is finalizing the bid document for inviting fresh bids.
2.
Guwahati to be developed as an airline hub in North part of NER and Agartala/Imphal to be developed as hubs in the Southern region of NER.

Establishing an airline hub at Guwahati is very essential to provide early morning connectivity within the NER as the weather deteriorates in the afternoon and evenings in NER.
MOU has been signed between Alliance Air and NEC on 20 Dec 2007 for extension of arrangements with Alliance Air up to 31.12.2008. As per this MOU Alliance Air shall place an aircraft in Guwahati for early operations in the morning. The AAI is to provide space for parking etc and make arrangement for early operations in the morning.
Developing Hub at Guwahati and Agartala is also proposed to be taken up while finalising new dedicated airline.

     
An ATR aircraft has been stationed at Guwahati airport by Alliance Air under the MOU w.e.f. 1.1.2008 for operating early morning departures ex-Guwahati.
3
 Night landing facility to be provided at Imphal by the end of 2007.

The ground lighting facility at Imphal Airport is as follows :

(i) RWY Edge Lights (HIRL) – 2 circuits
(ii) Approach light :
(a)  04 end   - CAT-I approach light
(b)  22 end   - Simple approach light
(iii) AFL Tower  - 2 Nos.
(iv) PAPI           - Available on both ends.
(v) SPOL           - Work awarded for 5 Nos. of SPOL at different hills. All materials are available at site. SPOL at one hill is completed. Site for the remaining hills  handed over by the State Govt. to AAI for executing the work.
4.
Pending finalization and implementation of a dedicated airline in the Region, the interim period has to be serviced by Alliance Air. M/s Alliance Air to workout an agreement for extending the existing MOU for another year.

The MOU has been signed to extend the current arrangements for a period of one year till December, 2008.  Under new MOU, a revised pattern of operations has been implemented in consultation with NEC that provides increased intra North East connectivity, night stopping of an aircraft at Guwahati and increase in the viability gap funding to Rs.38.5 crores.
Since the NEC operations is done with leased aircraft and the lease runs in tandem with the MOU, Alliance Air has informed NEC that an early decision is required regarding the status of arrangements beyond December, 2008 so that the aircraft lessors can be informed regarding the lease arrangement beyond this period.  The existing lessors had informed that in case they do not receive a confirmation they may commit the aircraft elsewhere.  Moreover, Alliance Air will be required to go through a tendering process that involves a lead time of 6-8 months.