Inter-state air services will be launched in Uttar Pradesh from next month as the project has got the approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India, officials said today.

The ambitious project of the state government has got an air service provider – North-East Shuttle, which has received permission from DGCA and AAI, they said.

The final talks are on with the company before it starts its operations from next month, Director Tourism Amrit Abhijat said.

With the launch of the services, the three main cities - Agra, Allahabad and Varanasi will be connected via air and this is likely to boost tourism.

After going through initial response from people, the company will expand its service area accordingly.

The project was mooted six months back by the state government but aviation companies gave lukewarm response to it.

Initially, 18 companies had evinced their interest but they later backed out.

The state cabinet has now approved incentives to the private operators that included 20 per cent underwriting of seats, wherein the state government would pay for one fifth of the seats (subjected to a maximum of six seats).

The cities which are proposed to be connected from Lucknow include Allahabad, Varanasi, Meerut, Moradabad, Agra, Gorakhpur, Chitrakoot and Sonebhadra.

According to officials, after the start of air services, travel time between Agra and Lucknow would be 60 minutes while Allahabad would be just 20 minutes away from the state capital.

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