Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday met union minister of state (independent charge) for civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi.
Sonowal requested union minister Puri to start flight connectivity from Guwahati to Sigapore, Kaula Lampur, Yangon, Kathmandu and Hanoi to give a boost to the Prime Minister’s Act East policy.
Sonowal, while thanking the union minister for starting the Guwahati-Dhaka flight, also requested him to consider allowing hopping flights with two destinations in India like Guwahati-Mumbai-Dubai or Delhi-Guwahati-Bangkok.
He said that the hopping flights will ensure optimum passenger load in flights while providing international connectivity to destinations like Guwahti and make the capital city a hub of trade and commerce with ASEAN countries.
Chief minister Sonowal also sought the intervention of Hardeep Singh Puri for expeditious completion of the revival project of Rupsi Airport in Dhubri to make it operational within the target date.
He also requested the union minister for extension and upgradation of Silchar Airport in Barak Valley to make it a regional hub.
Stating about Tezpur and Jorhat Airports, Sonowal requested the union minister to increase connectivity of flights in these airports under UDAN scheme.
Referring to Guwahati water front and Umrangso reservoir for operation of seaplanes under UDAN scheme, Sonowal requested the union minister for expeditious construction of water aerodromes besides earmarking Kaziranga as an important location for operation of seaplanes.
The union minister while remained positive throughout the discussion, assured the chief minister that his ministry would do everything possible to take off the projects in the state at the earliest.