Fly to Salem, Puducherry from Chennai

B Aravind KumarSunitha Sekar

CHENNAI,AUGUST 09, 2017 00:00 IST


Flights to Neyveli to begin in October; approval awaited for operations to Hosur which has a private airfield

From September, flying from Chennai to Puducherry and Salem will be possible as the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Civil Aviation Ministry takes off.

Both the Centre and State governments have big plans regarding the scheme. “It will revolutionise air travel as more and more people prefer to fly,” says P.W.C. Davidar, IAS, additional chief secretary, Transport Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Operations will first begin on the Chennai-Puducherry route, followed up by the Chennai-Salem route. “Already, the bids for Salem and Neyveli airports have been finalised. Hosur has got huge potential. It is a private airfield and the approval is awaited,” he says.

According to officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI), there are some obstructions in the approach at the Neyveli airport’s airstrip and a study has been conducted for the same.

“We plan to commence operations to Neyveli by the end of October at least,” an official says.

There will be special fares on these routes for at least half the seats (RCS fare). These seats will be priced at Rs. 2,500, AAI officials say.

Budgetary provision

The cabinet committee on economic affairs has given a budgetary provision of Rs. 4,500 crore for the RCS scheme to be implemented across the country. Also, AAI plans to invest Rs. 17,500 crore for capacity enhancement and upgrading infrastructure at various existing airports.

For instance, at Thoothukudi, the State has given 366 acres for the extension of the runway.

Also, AAI will expand both Tiruchi and Madurai airports in the coming months.

Under the RCS scheme, the State government will provide minimum land, if required, free of cost and free from all encumbrances for development of RCS airports. The VAT would be 1% or less on ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) at RCS airports located within the State for a period of 10 years.

Security provided by police personnel and fire and rescue services personnel will be offered free of cost by the State.

Electricity, water and other utility services will be offered at concessional rates, State government officials say.

Under the scheme, the airline could seek VGF (viability gap fund) in case there is a gap in cost of operations and revenues. According to sources, the approximate VGF commitment per annum has been worked out to be Rs. 211 lakh for Salem and Rs. 31 lakh for Neyveli.

While the tenure of the scheme would be 10 years, VGF support would be only for three years. The bid for Salem airport has been bagged by Turbo Megha (Trujet)-ATR78 and 36 RCS seats will be available on this route.

At Neyveli, the successful bidder is Air Odisha, which will operate 18-seaters in which nine seats will be available at RCS fares.

For Hosur, the VGF has been worked out to be Rs. 51 lakh but the bid has not been yet opened, sources say. RCS operations through helicopters are permitted only for remote/specified areas, officials say.

The scheme will will revolutionise air travel as more and more people prefer to fly

P.W.C. Davidar

Transport Secretary