Lok Sabha Question No. 1384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Expansion of Civil Aviation Infrastructure
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Yogender Chandolia, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Alok Sharma, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1384

(To be answered on the 13 th  February 2025)

## EXPANSION OF CIVIL AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE

1384.

SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA

SHRI ALOK SHARMA

SHRI LUMBA RAM

SMT SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to implement any scheme for the expansion of civil aviation infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has made any major announcements/policy
- announcements during the International Civil Aviation Day celebrations;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the impact of the said announcements on the civil aviation sector of the country; and
- (e) the major achievements or significant milestones attained in the country in the civil aviation sector during the last three years?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) & (b) Expansion of Civil Aviation infrastructure including in Tier -2 and Tier 3 cities is a continuous process and is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Operators/Developers from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand/willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airport. Unserved airports in Tier -2 and Tier - 3 cities are also developed for operations under the UDAN scheme on its identification and amended as per

the scheme provisions.

(c) & (d) The theme of the International Civil Aviation Day 2024 was Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the next 80 years. Government of India (GoI) has not made any major announcements or policy updates consequent to the observance of International Civil Aviation Day celebrated on 07.12.2024.

(e) The growth in our Civil Aviation Sector has been unprecedented in the last decade. The recent achievements or milestones in Civil Aviation in the country are as follows: -In the last 3 years, Indian airlines have ordered more than 1700 new aircraft. -India has launched a very ambitious drone project in rural areas, especially in the agriculture sector and has also created a pool of trained drone pilots through the 'Drone didi' campaign. -Government of India has so far accorded 'in-principle' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. -The domestic passenger traffic by scheduled domestic Indian airlines has witnessed a growth of 5.9% in the year 2024 as compared to previous year which sets a new record where domestic air passenger traffic crossed 5 lakhs for the first time in a single day on November 17, 2024. -During the  period  January  to  November  2024  a  total  of  64.5  million passengers were carried on international routes by Scheduled Indian & foreign operators as against 58.0 million in the corresponding period in 2023, thereby witnessing a growth of 11.4%. -During the year 2024 (Jan-Dec), the aircraft fleet of Scheduled/Scheduled

## Commuter operators has increased from 771 to 834.

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