"If the state government agrees for the proposal, a joint venture service will be launched where the state will have to shell out Rs 10 crore (rs 100 million) for acquiring the aircraft," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said.

He said as per the plan flights will be operated to places like Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Gondia, Kolhapur, Latur, Nagpur, Nanded, Pune and Yavatmal.

This connectivity will help small and medium class sector and business community to travel at an affordable cost, Patel said.  Meanwhile, Patel informed that the Centre would invest Rs 1.5 lakh crore in aviation sector.

The acquisition of fleet for Indian airlines, which was pending for more than 15-16 years has been cleared by the government, Patel said.

More air connectivity and increase in number of air passengers will be the major thrust for civil aviation ministry, he said.

"Presently only 70 lakh persons in a country whose population is 108 crores (1.08 billion), use airlines for travel and our aim is to increase it to atleast seven crores," Patel said.

"I have spoken to Union Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury for development tourist facilities in the region where there is a scope of eco-tourism and wild life-tourism," he said.