18 routes in NE to provide air connectivity

Union minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday said that 18 routes in the North Eastern region were operational to provide air connectivity under UDAN scheme.
He said North East is the focus area of the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN launched to facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity.
Ministry of Railways has also upgraded its infrastructure in the North East by way of gauge conversion, introduction of Vista Dome coaches and upgradation of stations. Informing this in a written reply in the Rajay Sabha on Thursday, Reddy said DoNER ministry also supports tourism programmes/events regularly. ‘Destination North East’ event is organized annually to attract tourists, he added.
Further, he said Market Development Assistance Scheme (MDAS) has been revised to include online promotions for the region and to enhance the extent of financial assistance permissible under the scheme.
The Ministry also provides financial assistance to North Eastern states, which include assistance for development of tourist infrastructure, promotion of fairs/festivals and tourism related events, information technology related projects, publicity campaigns, human resource development, market research etc, he added.
For giving a fillip to tourism in the region, he said DoNER has approved the project ‘Development of View Points in the North East Region’ at 22 scenic locations.
Reddy said the Ministry has also identified and forwarded a list of 25 tourist sites which could be taken as pilot project for formation of a separate police unit in the States/UTs.
A Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism have been adopted to encourage tourism activities, he added.