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Port Blair, Dec 06: In a major initiative to provide affordable air- connectivity in the Inter-Island Sector, the A&N Administration has decided to provide additional incentives to the airline operators, under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN to encourage them to introduce flights on the Inter-Island Sector.
The additional incentives include 30% extra Viability Gap Funding for the flights under RCS Scheme. Further, the Administration has also agreed to take responsibility for all the seats in fixed wing aircraft (including Sea Plane) upto 20 seats, while the original scheme provide only for 50% seats.
Presently the bidding process for the selection of airline operator under the RCS- UDAN scheme is going on and it is expected that the additional incentives offered by the A&N Administration will attract the Airlines to provide air-connectivity between various Islands very soon.
After finalisation of the bidding process, the proposed fare under the RCS-UDAN Scheme will be less than the existing fare of the helicopter services and will be equal for both Islanders and non-Islanders.
As per details a flight from Port Blair to Shibpur (Diglipur) will cost nearly Rs. 1,589 while in same sector the fare for helicopter for Islanders is Rs. 2100 and for non-islander is Rs. 5,250.
Similarly, in Port Blair to Car Nicobar route the fare will be Rs. 1,856 and in same sector the helicopter fare is Rs. 2800 for Islanders and Rs. 6,900 for Non-Islanders.
Likewise in Port Blair to Campbell Bay Sector the proposed fare will be Rs. 2,645 while presently the helicopter fare in same route is Rs. Rs. 5350 for Islanders and Rs. 13,400 for non-islanders.
In Car Nicobar to Campbell Bay Sector presently the helicopter fare is Rs. 2600 for Islanders and Rs. 6,500 for Non-Islanders which will be Rs. 1,856 only proposed fare under RCS-UDAN Scheme.