As part of its plan to develop Hisar airport into an Integrated Aviation Hub in three phases over the next few years, the Haryana government has announced additional incentives to airlines under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, for starting RCS flights in the State.
Devender Singh, Principal Secretary of Civil Aviation in Haryana, told The Hindu that in addition to Viability Gap Funding (VGF) being provided by the Centre on 50% seats under the RCS, the State government had decided to extend VGF on balance 50% seats from the State budget.
The VGF will be provided on nine seats in an aircraft with 18 to 20 seating capacity, and scheduled for three departures in a week.
Class-II and above employees of the State government will be allowed to avail the RCS flights originating from Haryana for official purposes and LTC.
Phase-wise development
The parking and landing charges will be rationalised on the pattern of the Airports Authority of India with mutual discussions between interested parties and the government.
Mr. Singh said that bids for the RCS were opened on August 24 for a month. “Only after the process ends, will we know whether any airline is interested in RCS from the State,” said Mr. Singh.
In the first phase, the Hisar Airport will be upgraded and developed as a domestic airport under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
In the second phase, the existing 4,000 feet airstrip will be extended to 9,000 feet. Facilities for night landing, state-of-the-art navigational aids to facilitate fixed-based operations, and parking of aircraft will be added.
International airport
“Due to increasing traffic at Delhi airport, small aircraft are sometimes diverted to Lucknow. We plan to market the Hisar airport for fixed-based operations, parking, night landing and refuelling over the next 18-24 months at a cost of ₹80-100 crore. We are also in talks with airlines and the Defence Ministry for defence and civil MRO facility at Hisar,” said Mr. Singh.
“In the last phase, we will market the airport as a full-fledged international airport, as both passenger and cargo airport. In five to seven years, congestion at Delhi airport will increase and they might need an alternative airport. We have got a preliminary study done, but we need a detailed project report and a nod from the environment ministry,” he added.
Haryana is also planning to extend the existing airstrips in Bhiwani, Narnaul, Karnal and Pinjore, from 3,000 feet to 5,000 feet, to accommodate bigger aircraft and provide parking and MRO facilities.
In addition, there is a proposal to acquire additional land to develop aerospace, defence and other industries near these airports.
