DGCA to inspect all aviation facilities in the North East

New Delhi: Civil aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct a detailed inspection of all "critical" aviation facilities such as airports, airfields and helipads in the north east region in the coming four weeks in a bid to ensure safety in air travel and also to expand aerial connectivity.

This decision was conveyed to BK Handique, union minister for development of the north eastern region.

The inspection will be carried out with a view to resuming helicopter services suspended after the fatal crash that killed Arunachal chief minister Dorjee Khandu recently. The crash came hard on the heels of another chopper crash at Tawang that killed 17 people last month.

The officials said the ministry for the development of the north eastern region (DoNER) will soon approach Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate daily flights to Lilabari, an airport in Assam's Dibrugarh which is around 70 kms from Arunachal capital Itanagar.

The ministry of civil aviation is also preparing a detailed study for complimentary routes for fixed wing aircraft and helicopter operations within 15 days, said the officials.

DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhusan and senior officials of civil aviation ministry as well as DoNER ministry were present in the meeting.

Handique has written to the civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi last week seeking direct services from Kolkata to Assam's Tezpur and Lilabari airports, which are close to Arunachal.