Karnataka government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India to promote regional air links.
As part of the commitments from the State Government, the concessions offered to airlines operating in the RCS routes included reduced sales tax to one per cent or less on Aviation Fuel at RCS airports for a period of ten years, offer of free land for development and expansions of Airports under the Scheme and provide necessary rail and metro connectivity to the RCS airports in coordination with Government of India.
The Mou also provided for security and fire services free of cost at Government RCS Airports and for private RCS Airports, it will be examined on case to case basis. The Centre has identified 19 airports in the State including Chikkamagaluru, Kushalnagar, Karwar, Harihar, Ammasandra, Koppal, Bengaluru, Ballari, Bidar, Ginigera (Hospet), Hassan, Jakkur, Kolar, Mysore (Mandakalli), Raichur, Shahabad, Vidyanagar, Yadgir, Yelahanka as per RCS. Speaking on the occasion Industry Minister R V Deshpande said development of Regional Air Connectivity not only connects different cities but also contributes to States GDP and creates employment.
