Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) Admitting that the northeast was lagging in economic activity as well as connectivity, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Monday said nearly Rs.1.25 billion would be spent for modernising, upgrading and improving airports in the region under the current five-year plan.

After a meeting of the consultative committee attached to his ministry, Patel told reporters the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was engaged in developing and augmenting the communication navigation system (CNS) infrastructure for meeting the growing demand of aviation activities in the region.

The AAI operates and manages 22 airports and civil enclaves in the eight northeastern states.

The minister said the AAI has prepared a detailed project report for construction of a greenfield airport in Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs.3.40 billion.

He said the sites for construction of greenfield airports near Kohima and Itanagar have been identified.

The aircraft movement in the northeast in 2005-06 was 34,036 - a 3.11 percent increase over the previous year. Passenger traffic has also registered an 11.9-percent growth during the year and cargo traffic 6.8 percent.

The committee on infrastructure under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during its 12th meeting held in June had decided that, "development of airports in the northeastern region must be taken up by the AAI on priority basis".