Lok Sabha Question No. 3076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Strengthening the Aviation Infrastructure
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah, C. Lalrosanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3076 (To be answered on the I6th December 2021)

## STRENGTHENING THE AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE

3076.

SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH SHRI C. LALROSANGA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state: -

- whether the Government proposes to strengthen the aviation infrastructure in the country including North East Region and if so, the details thereof; State-wise;
- (c) the steps taken by Government to connect all the State capitals of North East Region in the near future;
- (b) the details of the airports where infrastructure development works are going 0n in North East Region including Assam;
- (d) whether the Government has set any target in this regard and if s0, the details thereof;
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
- (e) whether the Government has included Assam under this programme;-and

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K SINGH (RETD))

- (a) to (f): Yes Sir, air connectivity in the North East Region (NER) is priority for the Government:

The expansion and strengthening of aviation infrastructure facilities in the country including North East Region, is a continuous process and is undertaken On the basis of operational requirements for safety 0f aircraft operation;\_This leads to increased operational efficiency and capacity of Terminal Building which facilitates seamless movement of Aircraft and enhances passenger user experience:

Development works including licensing of Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh) and Rupsi (Assam) are completed and these airports are operational

Further, development works undertaken by Airports Authority of India(AAI)

at Heliports, Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and water aerodromes in different states of the North East Region.

Also, Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country by making air travel affordable to the masses.

RCS-UUDAN is market driven mechanism. Development of regional air connectivity routes is left to the market forces. Airlines undertake assessment of demand and nature of supply required on particular routes and participate in the UDAN bidding: Selection of airlines is done through a transparent bidding process.

So far; under UDAN the Airports & Water Aerodromes identified/awarded in North-Eastern States including Assam is enclosed as Annexure and all the airports are operationalized except water aerodromes at Guwahati River Front and Umrangso reservoir.

During RCS-UDAN-2.0 & 4.0 bidding round, helicopter routes networks across North Eastern States namely Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh have been awarded to the helicopter operators to provide connectivity to Hilly Terrains and far-flung areas and details are as follow:-

- 2.Assam: Nagaon(H) Geleki (H) Misa (H)
- 1.Arunachal Pradesh Daparizo Itanagar; Tuting Walong Yinghiong & Ziro
- 3 Manipur: Jiribam(HD) Moreh(H) Parbung(H) Tamenglong(H) Thanlon(H)
- 4.Meghalaya: Sohra, Dawki & Williamnagar

The identified airports in North-Eastern States have been connected with airports of major cities of the country and connectivity thereof are given below:

- 9) Pakyong: connected with the major cities Kolkata, Delhi & Guwahati

- b) Jorhat: connected with Kolkata

- c) Tezpur: Kolkata

- d) Rupsi: Guwahati & Kolkata

- e) Shillong: Kolkata, Imphal

- f) Lilabari: Kolkata

- g) Pasighat: Guwahati

- h) Tezu: Guwahati

- Dimapur: Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Imphal & Shillong

Statement   referred to in  reply to Unstarred QNo 3076 for answer on 16.12.2021 regarding Strengthening the Aviation Infrastructure

| State             | Airport              |
|-------------------|----------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Passighat            |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Tezu                 |
| Assam             | Rupsi                |
| Assam             | Jorhat               |
| Assam             | Lilabari             |
| Assam             | Tezpur               |
| Assam             | Guwahati River Front |
| Assam             | Umrangso Reservoir   |
| Meghalaya         | Shillong (Barapani)  |
| Nagaland          | Dimapur              |
| Sikkim            | Pakyong              |