NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants states to have a significant say in the implementation of the regional air connectivity programme under the upcoming civil aviation policy. The new policy is likely to be unveiled this week. Giving states more space to decide on aviationrelated matters is a shift away from the norm that makes aviation a central subject.

"The Prime Minister's Office had asked to provide more powers to states on deciding the airports they want to launch flights from and on a few other things," said a senior ministry official, who did not want to be named. These changes have been made in the policy document that was sent to the Cabinet, this official said. The policy is expected to be cleared on Wednesday.

Under the proposed regional connectivity scheme, the government will offer a subsidy to flights that connect currently non-operational airports at a fare of Rs 2,500 per hour of flight. The civil aviation ministry has hired a consultant to prepare a detailed plan for the implementation of the scheme. Analysts welcomed the government's move to bring states on board. "Giving powers to state will only make implementation better and is a welcome step," said Amrit Pandurangi, senior director at consu ..

While most of the key proposals in the new policy have been approved by the PMO, it hasn't made any decision on a suggestion to change the way permission is granted to foreign airlines to operate flights to India. There are two views within the civil aviation ministry on the matter, with senior minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and some officials seeking auctioning of bilateral rights to bring in transparency and junior minister Mahesh Sharma opposing it as no other country does it.

"The PMO has not taken a decision on it. It has said that any decision on auctioning of bilateral rights should be left to the committee of secretaries to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary," said a senior aviation ministry official.