Wednesday, June 21 2006 13:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Government's move to invite a private carrier to connect this state capital with New Delhi has run into rough weather over the flight timings and funding.

The government had invited interested parties to start air services on the Kolkata-Ranchi-New Delhi route. The aim was to have a flight that would reach New Delhi in the morning and return in the evening, allowing ministers, businessmen and officials to attend to work in the national capital.

Six companies put in bids and the low-cost, private carrier Air Deccan was selected by the state. However, the timing proposed by Air Deccan for the flight is not to the liking of the government.

According to a senior official, Air Deccan planes were to depart from Ranchi at 9.20 a.m. "The timing does not suit us. We want to reach New Delhi by 10 a.m.," the official told sources.

The time of the return flight from New Delhi 7 p.m. is also not acceptable to the state government.

To make Air Deccan's service viable, the government had proposed to reserve 25 seats by paying for them.

"The government will pay Rs.55 million a year to Air Deccan so that it does not face any loss," said an official.

According to officials, Air Deccan wants that the government reserve 60 seats and pay for them. An Air Deccan official here said, "There is no landing slot in New Delhi airport before 11.30 a.m. And Ranchi airport, which is short staffed, will not be able to handle flights landing after 7.30 p.m." Although there is another regular flight from here to New Delhi, its timings are odd. The plane arrives at Ranchi at 12.20 p.m. and leaves for the national capital at 4 p.m.