Port Blair, March 19: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A. K. Singh (Retd), today called on the Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma. Secretaries to Govt of India of the concerned Departments and MD, Air India were also present.
During this meeting, it was decided that Delhi–Visakhapatnam–Port Blair flights should be operational by 1st week of April 2015. Besides, the Ministry agreed to consider four charter flights between Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai. It was also decided that the Administration will seek clearance from DGCA for night landings of flights at Port Blair. The issue of expansion of Pawan Hans Helicopter Services by adding two more helicopters were also discussed. Other issues such as stationing of an Air India ATR aircraft at Port Blair which could operate between Port Blair and Car Nicobar and feasibility of operating flights from airfields at Campbell Bay and Shibpur also figured in the discussions. It was also brought out that once the approval of operation of night flights is obtained, the issue of Charter flights for Kolkata would become possible as Indian Airlines can make available aircrafts only at night. Blocking of seats in each of flights and commencement of flight to Phuket was also discussed.
On the Tourism front, the preparation of Detail Project Report (DPR) of projects will be expedited. The issue of promotion of tourism in the A&N Islands on the same footing as J&K and the North Eastern States were discussed. Further, opening up of Nicobar group of Islands for selective/limited tourism also figured in the discussions. The Tourism Minister assured that additional projects like Oceanarium and development of Marine front will be taken up once a formal proposal is submitted by the A&N Administration.
