Jamshedpur, Sept. 9: Air Deccan today informed that it would start air services in the state by the end of this year. The chief (revenue) of Air Deccan, John Kuruvilla told The Telegraph over the telephone from Bangalore that the company is extremely focussed about its plan to start services in the state at the earliest possible date.

?Definitely by the end of this year, we shall start the services,? Kuruvilla informed. According to this senior functionary of the airways, initially the company shall be concentrating on connecting Ranchi and Jamshedpur with Calcutta.

?We are looking at Ranchi and Jamshedpur at present in Jharkhand,? he said and added that other two important cities like Bokaro and Dhanbad are not under consideration.

Sources in the Air Deccan informed that the company is in the process of acquiring aircrafts. Once that process is over, Air Deccan flights shall begin to operate in the state.

?Details like flight timings and tariffs are being discussed and they are at an initial stage. Decisions on these issues take time,? Kuruvilla informed.

Industrialists of the city have been demanding better air connectivity for a long time.

The four associations of industrialists, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Singhbhum Industries Association (SIA) and Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA), have petitioned both the Union and the state governments to take steps to improve the air connectivity in the state.

The industrialists stated that since Calcutta is the emerging economic hub of eastern India, there is an absolute need to connect that city with some of the important cities of the state like Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

?In this era of stiff competition, time is of prime importance. Once the flights connecting Calcutta to Ranchi and Jamshedpur start, it shall have a great impact on the state on the economic front. It shall also benefit the existing entrepreneurs and businessmen of these two cities, who often visit Calcutta for business purposes,? maintained the president of SCCI, A K Srivastava and hoped that Air Deccan would start its services in the state soon.

The industrialists are of the view that other important destinations of the country like Chennai and Bangalore should also be connected by air.

?There should be more flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai also,? they felt. According to officials in the state aviation ministry, the tourism sector in the state shall also get a boost once Air Deccan starts services.

?There is going to be an increase in the inflow of tourists from West Bengal, especially Calcutta and its adjoining areas once air services start,? observed government officials.