Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha has said that the Regional Connectivity Scheme, RCS is in pursuance of the Government's objective of taking development and infrastructural facilities to the common man in all parts of the country. Mr Sinha was speaking to media after the Ministry held consultations with Stakeholders of the Regional Connectivity Scheme. Addressing the media, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said, the Ministry has come with an open mind and will try to address the concerns of the various Stakeholders wherever possible. He was hopeful that the Regional Connectivity Scheme should take final shape by mid August.<br/><br/>During the deliberations many key issues discussed which include bidding parameter to be considered while inviting proposals for interested airlines operations, exclusivity to be granted to selected airline operators for operations, proposed airfare caps and overall implementability of Regional Connectivity Scheme among others. Representatives of State Governments expressed their willingness to cooperate in giving support to Airlines to operate from airports within their States. However, States from the North East wanted the Centre to give 100 per cent financial assistance to the Scheme. Representatives from Airlines wanted assistance under the Scheme to be extended beyond period of three years. Some Stakeholders also wanted flexibility with regard to the distance stipulated in the Draft . They wanted the minimum distance of 200 Kilometres and maximum distance of 600 Kilometres to be decided on a case to case basis.<br/><br/>The primary objective of the Regional Connectivity Scheme is to facilitate and stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable. The Scheme proposes concessions by Centre and State Governments and airport operators and fiscal (viabilility gap funding) support to promote affordability of regional air connectivity.<br/><br/>The meeting was attended by Ministers and senior officers from the State Governments and Union Territories, Airport Operators, National airlines, Regional Airlines and Non-schedules operators, Airline Associations, Helicopter operators and their association including Pawan Hans, RWSI, Aircraft Manufactures, Regulatory agencies like DGCA, AERA, BCAS and Industry associations.