Sri Vijaya Puram, September 22: A major step towards strengthening inter-island air connectivity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been taken with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under RCS–UDAN 6.0 between the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The initiative will focus on introducing seaplanes and small fixed-wing aircraft to improve connectivity between islands, particularly destinations where conventional runway-based air services may not be available.
Announcing the development, Lt. Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma said in a post on Twitter 'X' that the initiative aims to promote affordable inter-island air connectivity while giving a boost to tourism, trade, employment, healthcare and education across the islands.
Under the Modified UDAN framework, airline operators will receive Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for five years to support the operation of inter-island routes.
The funding will be shared between the Centre and the Union Territory, with 90 per cent Central VGF and 10 per cent contribution from the UT Administration.
The arrangement is intended to support the operation of routes where commercial viability may initially be challenging.
A key feature of the initiative is the development and use of water aerodromes for seaplane operations.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will support the operation and maintenance of land airports and water aerodromes associated with the connectivity programme.
The UT Administration will provide essential support, including firefighting, security and utility infrastructure, required for the operation of the facilities.
The Administration will also maintain VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at 1 per cent under the arrangement.
Improved inter-island connectivity could make remote destinations more accessible and support tourism and local businesses.
Faster air connectivity could also help residents travelling for medical treatment, education, employment and other essential purposes, while providing an additional transportation option between selected islands.
The initiative may also create opportunities in aviation operations, ground handling, security, firefighting and other supporting services.
Flights to Follow Implementation Process, The signing of the MoU is an important step, but regular flights will require further implementation.
The next stages will include finalisation of routes, regulatory clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), selection of eligible operators and development or readiness of water-aerodrome facilities at identified locations.
The actual commencement of services will depend on completion of these requirements and the participation of eligible airline operators.
The UDAN 6.0 framework therefore opens a new avenue for improving connectivity between the islands, with the proposed combination of seaplanes, small aircraft, VGF support and water-aerodrome infrastructure forming the core of the new inter-island aviation initiative.
