 NEW DELHI, Aug 20: Lieutenant Governor of UT Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today called on Hon'ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, at his office in New Delhi and discussed critical issues concerning air connectivity in Ladakh.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor strongly advocated for operationalising air services from Kargil and Thoise (Nubra) under the RCS-UDAN scheme, highlighting that these regions remain inadequately connected for most of the year due to difficult terrain and prolonged road closures. He pointed out that the current IAF-operated winter services under Operation Sadbhavana are limited in capacity and only cater to emergency travellers, students, and patients, leaving a vast section of the population dependent on restricted options.
The Lt Governor urged the Ministry to clear existing bottlenecks and facilitate fixed-wing operations with turboprop aircraft of up to 50 seats for sustainable connectivity. He further proposed that a table-top feasibility exercise be conducted at Kargil Airport with representatives of MoCA, DGCA, AAI, and other stakeholders to finalise operational standards, aircraft categories, and pilot requirements for regular services.
The Lt Governor also raised the issue of high airfares on existing routes to Ladakh, pressing for a fair regulatory mechanism to ensure affordable travel for residents and visitors alike.
Another major agenda discussed was the speedy completion of the new terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh, which is vital for handling the increasing passenger traffic and strengthening Ladakh's connectivity with the rest of the country.
The Union Minister gave a patient hearing and assured full cooperation from the Ministry in addressing these concerns and working towards improved air services for the people of Ladakh. |
