Ranchi: The cabinet on Tuesday approved regulations for more incentives to airlines running flights between Ranchi and Dumka under UDAN regional connectivity scheme by way of seat underwriting.
Seat underwriting refers to buying seats on a flight by states to incentivise private airlines to provide connectivity on loss-making routes that remain either unconnected or under-served.
Aircrafts have been divided into three categories depending on their seats. For carriers with seats up to 20, the state government will pay for five non-VGF (viability gap funding) seats with a maximum of 150 seats per month for three years effective from the date of operation. Those with more than 20 seats will be compensated against 30 per cent non-VGF or 5 non-VGF seats per day up to a maximum of 150 seats per month, whichever is less, for three years effective from the date of operation. The state funding will be over and above the VGF, an economic instrument of the Centre to help projects with a long gestation time.
Other decisions
• Amended Jharkhand municipal body election regulations to enable individuals whose names figure on electoral rolls, to contest elections from any municipal ward
• Approved salaries for project high school teachers on a par with their counterparts in state-run schools, with revised pay effective since January 1, 1982, or their date of appointment, whichever is later
• Sanctioned posts of teachers at proposed new medical colleges in Dumka, Hazaribagh and Daltonganj, which would accommodate 100 MBBS students each.
