Govt inks MoU for chopper service

DIPR DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 23 THE State government has signed an agreement with Thumby Aviation Pvt. Ltd for operating the State Helicopter Service. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Commissioner & Secretary of Transport on behalf of the State government and Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) for Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd in Kohima on Monday.The Commissioner & Secretary Transport informed that the services will begin at the earliest, and that the agreement is initially for two years which may be extended later. He also said Nagaland shall fully comply with the Regulatory stipulation standard notified by the Assam Rifles. Dimapur will be the base station and the service will be of high standard, he stated. It was informed that two 13-seater choppers, BEL-412, will be provided and one of which will be for regular service and the other for stand by and emergency services. The Commissioner & Secretary Transport also disclosed that Nagaland Civil Aviation Board will be set up soon to execute the mechanism for managing airlines and helicopter services. He also said a Civil Aviation Academy might be established in near future through Higher Education and Youth Resources & Sports departments. The Commissioner further said Peren, Pfutsero, Mon, Shamator, Noklak etc will be managed by the Civil Administration and Transport department of the State and hoped that the connectivity, therefore, will improve. He also said small air strip in addition to helipads is intended to be made in some places of the State.