By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The North Eastern Council (NEC) is making efforts to make the Umroi Airport operational by the second week of May.
Sources from the NEC on Wednesday informed that the Council is exploring opportunities to invite private entrepreneurs to operate flights from the Umroi Airport and other smaller airports of the North Eastern region.
It is learnt that the NEC has held discussions with private airlines and some have even shown interest in operating from Umroi.
The Airport has been non-functional for four months after Alliance Air stopped its services from the Airport in January.
The NEC floated a fresh Expression of Interest (EoI) for airline services to and from the Airport, but only two bidders – North East Shuttles and Seven Sisters Airlines – responded to the EOIs. In view of the poor response, the NEC has now requested for fresh proposals by May 15 after which fresh bids will be floated.
Reacting to a query, sources said that one of the reasons for the poor response from the bidders may be that the EOI did not suit the bidders. “We want to understand their requirements,” the sources added.
The sources also informed that the matter regarding improvement of air connectivity in the North East region has been taken up with the Director General of Civil Aviation which is contemplating creation of a regional air connectivity fund to improve air services in the landlocked region.
