SHILLONG, March 15: Transport Minister, Dasakhiatbha Lamare on Tuesday candidly admitted that the government’s move to sign a deal with FlyBig to operate flight service on the Shillong-New Delhi route was a mistake and the department has learnt a hard lesson after spending over Rs 2 crore on the same.
Reacting to a query from West Shillong legislator, Mohendro Rapsang on whether it was prudent to enter into an agreement with an operator which has no aircraft, the minister agreed with the MLA and admitted that the agreement was signed in a hurry.
He also said the department, working on the project for the first time, learnt a lesson.
The Meghalaya government has paid more than Rs 2 crore to FlyBig to operate 16 flights between Shillong and New Delhi ever since the services started in December 2020, prompting the Opposition to term it as a “failed project”.
Lamare said FlyBig had procured an aircraft from SpiceJet on lease. The flight could not be operated after some time.
Asked when the service will resume, the minister failed to give an exact date and said the government has sent the firm a show-cause notice. The firm has sought time till the end of this month for resuming the services, he added. “If they are able to resume, we will go ahead with the services or else we will re-examine and look for a better solution,” the minister said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma intervened at this juncture and replied that the selection process was done through tendering and there were two parties that bid.
The chief minister added that the party was selected through a tendering process and the other firm that applied had quoted a price much higher than FlyBig’s because they were using a costlier Q400 jet.
“Secondly, this agreement was signed and the tender process was done before COVID happened and the entire process of getting a wet-lease for an aircraft had started during that time. Due to the lockdown, several sectors took a hit and things came to a standstill,” the CM said. He also said Rs 2.05 crore had been paid to the company for operating 16 flights till now but failed to give say how many passengers have used the services.
The minister also said no more payment has been made to the company.
AITC legislator HM Shangpliang said Baljek is a failed project while adding that Rs 12,86,371 per trip was paid to FlyBig even though the government did not conduct the exercise before taking this step.
The Chief Minister intervened once again and said one has to realise that the step was needed to create connectivity.
New runway mooted for Baljek Airport
The chief minister informed the House that the government intends to build a 2.2-km long runway at Baljek Airport located at Jengjal in the West Garo Hills district.
He said this in reply to a question raised by Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin on the non-functional Baljek airport.
Momin said the airport was sanctioned in 1995 and cost Rs 12.52 crore to build. It was inaugurated in 2008 by the then President, Pratibha Patil.
Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare replied, saying the department is trying to make the airport operational.
Adding to the transport minister’s reply, Sangma said the process of acquiring land for expanding the runway is on.
He said Baljek airport does not have any challenges like the Umroi airport, where a mountain blocks the instrument landing system and prevents larger aircraft from landing.
“We are hopeful that things will move much faster at Baljek,” Sangma said.
Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie asked if there is any subsidy from the Centre on all the seven flights operating in the state. Lamare said these flights are managed by the Centre under the UDAN scheme.
Reacting to another question, Sangma said the Shillong Airport at Umroi would have to be declared an international airport for international flights to operate.
He added he has had a verbal communication with the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, who stated that connectivity to Sylhet and Dhaka would improve the business and tourist connectivity. The CM informed the House that they have made such a move.