Air Deccan told to commence Jamshedpur-Kolkata flight by February 15

Union minister Jayant Sinha today gave an ultimatum to Air Deccan to start operations under the 'Udaan' scheme on Jamshedpur-Kolkata route by February 15, saying a new bidder would be selected if the low-cost airline fails to meet the deadline.

Air Deccan was to commence operations on Jamshedpur- Kolkata route by September 30 last year.

The Union minister of state for civil aviation said the carrier did not have the 19-seater aircraft required for the flight service and had to import the aircraft, recruit pilots and other crew members, which caused the delay.

"We have given them the last chance to start the service from February 15. And we will allocate it to some other aviation company if they fail to meet the deadline," he told reporters.

India's first low-cost carrier Air Deccan, which had ceased operations after it was acquired by the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines in 2008, took wings again as a commuter airline on December 23 with its maiden flight taking off from Mumbai for Jalgaon.

Sinha said the steel city Jamshedpur is an important industrial and business centre, and flight service is required to improve air connectivity.

He was here to participate in the 'City Data for India Conclave 2018' organised jointly by Tata Steel, Tata Trust and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Referring to the 'Udaan' scheme, he said applications for Bokaro/Dhanbad-Kolkata and Ranchi-Dumka air services have been received during the second round of bidding.

Operations on these routes are likely to be launched in five to six months, Sinha said, adding that more cities such as Daltongunj and Hazaribag would be linked to flight services.

Besides, the government has plans to expand the helipad in Jharkhand to promote spiritual tourism and link religious places with air services, he said.

Sinha, who was in the city to also inspect the proposed site for a new airport at Dalbhumgarh in Ghatsila sub-division of East Singhbhum district and feasibility for expansion of Tata Steel's Sonari Aerodrum, said the construction of the airport would begin by the end of next year.

The land acquisition process for the greenfield airport has already begun and "we will establish a runway and a terminal at an investment of Rs 200-250 crore in the first phase," he said.

About 150 acres of land has been identified for the project, Sinha said.

The minister said a new airport would also be constructed at Nagwa in Hazaribag district, where 200 acres of land has been identified.