New Delhi, Jan 10: MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, after repeatedly raising the matter of Civil Flight Operations in Kargil and Nubra Valleys in Parliament and continuous efforts with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, approached a private airline SpiceJet Limited, seeking support to operate civil flights in the remote Kargil and Nubra Valleys in Ladakh with the aim is to improve lives in these areas and boost tourism and rural economy of the people in Ladakh.In response to MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal’s efforts, the Ministry of for Civil Aviation in a writen reply to the Member of Parliament from Ladakh confirmed that the Kargil airport, owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been earmarked for development and for operating RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) flights in the subsequent rounds of bidding under the UDAN scheme. An allocation of Rs. 9.20 Crores has been sanctioned by Modi Sarkar for the airport’s development. Despite route cancellations from previous UDAN rounds, the Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighted that if any airline submits a valid bid connecting Kargil with other airports, it will be considered under the UDAN Scheme.
The Aviation Minister informed MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal that small aircraft can be operateed in Kargil due to terrain constraints that limit larger aircraft operations. Emphasizing the potential for airlines to provide services based on demand and commercial viability, MP Namgyal approached Ajay Singh, the Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet Limited, discussing possibilities to operate civil flights to Kargil and Nubra Valleys.
Furthermore, the Minister’s letter to MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal stated that Thoise airport in Nubra is available for bidding under the RCS-UDAN scheme. However, during recent rounds, no routes connecting Thoise airport were awarded due to the lack of bids from airlines. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought 10 acres of land for Thoise airport’s development under UDAN, of which the IAF has offered 5 acres. AAI has accepted this proposal and plans to develop a Civil Enclave with a 5300 sqm Terminal Building once the land is handed over.
The Minister highlighted that since the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, domestic aviation in India has been deregulated, allowing airlines to initiate services based on traffic demand and commercial viability. Consequently, MP Namgyal appealed to SpiceJet’s CMD Ajay Singh to consider operating civil flights to Thoise in Nubra Valley as well to improve lives in these areas and boost tourism and rural economy of the people in Union Territory of Ladakh.
