Imphal, Oct. 4: Union DoNER minister P.R. Kyndiah today announced that the Northeast would get a “dedicated” airlines service very soon to link the “unreachable” areas of the region with the rest of the country. The project, still on the drawing board, would also give a boost to the region’s tourism industry, he said.

Addressing newspersons before leaving Imphal, Kyndiah said Manipur Governor S.S. Sidhu had accepted the offer to chair the proposed technical committee for studying the project.

The committee would cover all aspects of the project, including feasibility studies, and submit a report to the Centre for its approval, the minister said. “The idea is to build a sustainable tourism industry and also usher in development in the Northeast. The only requirement is stability and peace,” he said. He pointed out that the region, particularly Manipur, had great potential for building a tourist hub.

Kyndiah said 19-seater aircraft would be introduced under the project and 3,000-feet runways developed in the remote reaches of the region. He, however, did not specify any timeframe for the implementation of the project.

The Union minister was here on a three-day visit to assess development projects undertaken with central funds. He made a whirlwind tour of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts along with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

“I met public leaders in the three hill districts and all they want is development and peace. I also inspected ongoing projects in these areas and am quite satisfied with the progress,” Kyndiah said.

In Tamenglong, the minister witnessed demonstrations by students, who demanded better education facilities in the district. Police had to resort to a lathicharge, in which about 15 students were injured. The incident took place just as Kyndiah was boarding the helicopter to return to Imphal.

This morning, the minister also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 4.32-crore dharamsala (guesthouse) on the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences campus.