Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh today said that the government is in the process of providing air connectivity to remote and interior areas of the country including the North Eastern Region. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of his Ministry in Bangalore, Mr.Singh said that the new policy instrument in the form of Route Dispersal Guidelines is under consideration.

It includes creation of Essential Air Services Fund (EASF) for providing direct subsidy to encourage domestic airlines to fly on these remote and interior routes. According to an official release issued in New Delhi, He said that his ministry is also in the process of enhancing the present operations of helicopters and construction of heliports at various places to improve the connectivity of smaller places.
Mr. Singh said the Ministry is contemplating to give more functional autonomy to the existing Directorate General of Civil Aviation-DGCA by establishing Civil Aviation Authority -CAA under an Act of Parliament which will soon be given a final shape. He also said that it is also proposed to set up a National Aviation University, as a measure of skill augmentation and to produce the next generation of aviation professional.