Addressing a press conference here, Surjewala, who also heads the committee appointed by the Chief Minister to deliberate on all issues relating to development of airstrips in Haryana through private parties and to make recommendations to the government, said an expression of interest will be issued soon in this regard to invite applications.

He said the four airstrips will be given to the applicant for an initial period of 10 years, extendible for another five years by mutual consent of the state. The Haryana government has decided to fix an annual licence fee of Rs 10 lakh. Operation charges would be Rs 8,000 per month per aircraft below 5,700 kg and Rs 10,000 per month per aircraft above 5,700 kg. A performance bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh would have to be given by the selected party.

Surjewala said the Haryana government expected that 28 to 30 aircraft of single engine and multi-engines will be available for flying on the four airstrips. These would be in addition to the four aircraft of the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) available at Hisar airstrip, which is yet to be offered.

As many as 20 per cent of the total seats offered by the private operators will be reserved for those holding Haryana domiciles. Reservation policy of the state government with regard to SC and BC quota will be implemented in the 20 per cent reserved seats for Haryana domiciles. Not only this, the fees charged from Haryana domiciles would be much less than those from others. HICA rates would be applicable to Haryanvis, he said,