Accessibility to air travel will boost tourism
By terming the motto of the new National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) as ‘connecting the unconnected and serving the un-served', the National Democratic Alliance under the leadership of Narendra Modi has once again made us realise that the Government is inching towards sabka saath, sabka vikas. Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju has stressed that the ‘centrepiece of the policy is making regional connectivity a reality'.
This will make travel easier to the remotest areas of the country like the north-eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and lakshadweep. NCAP 2016 is not just about opening the skies for more private carriers but has also unleashed a brand new opportunity for nearly 35 crore middle class Indians who can now fly across the country and abroad. Besides, the NCAP can massively boost air connectivity and enhance air travel almost four times in five years. Minister Raju must be credited for his grand plan for revamping the country's one of the most loss making and troublesome sectors.
It is one more significant step wherein the Modi Government has demonstrated that it is gradually coming out of the regressive legacies of the earlier United Progressive Alliance like that of the 5/20 rule. Under this rule, a domestic airline is allowed to go international only after flying for five years to domestic destinations and operating at least 20 aircraft. Now the new NCAP has made it 0/20 so that start-up airliners can fly abroad after operating at least 20 planes or 20 per cent of their total flying capacity, whichever is higher on domestic routes.
Apart from this, now India will have an open sky policy for countries beyond the 5,000 km radius from Delhi on a reciprocal basis. This implies that the airlines from neighbouring South Asian countries or European nations will have unlimited access both in terms of number of flights and seats to Indian airports. The very idea of the Government to provide support to fund airlines losses on un-served routes by a small levy per departure on all domestic routes, except in remote ones including the north eastern States, can surely motivate the airliners for operating in these areas. Dropping the auctioning of additional bilateral tariff rights at the moment is fine but it needs to be sorted out soon.
Finally, schemes like a passenger will be charged only Rs2,500 for an hour flight on regional routes will increase air traffic in shorter distances. The Government's plan to revive some 50 no-frills airports and promote connectivity in un-served areas beyond the major routes can be regarded as no less revolutionary in the history of civil aviation in India. This reminds one of how difficult it is to travel to either North East or Andaman and Nicobar Islands as we did not have adequate rail and air connectivity to these places. Beyond the age-old Pawan Hans helicopters which have been taking the lives of many including a serving Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, at least the people from these States and the island territories of the country which are so vital for our national security, would now see the light of the day. The NCAP will impact the tourism industry which requires cheaper, faster and wider connectivity.