Lok Sabha Question No. 1160 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Airports in Rajasthan
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1160

(To be answered on the 27 th  July 2023)

## AIRPORTS IN RAJASTHAN

1160. COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of the infrastructural and operational challenges faced by the
- airports in Rajasthan;
- (b) the number of airports currently functional in Rajasthan, the nature of their operation (domestic/international), their passenger handling capacities and flights currently operating from these airports;
- (c)  the  details  of  any  expansion or modernization plans for the existing airports in Rajasthan;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  the  development  of  new airports/airstrips in Rajasthan to enhance connectivity and bolster socioeconomic development and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the measures being taken to improve the operational efficiency and safety standards  of  the  airports  in  Rajasthan  and  the  steps  to  address  the infrastructural  bottlenecks;
- (f) the details of the budget allocated for the development and upgradation of the civil aviation infrastructure in Rajasthan during the last three years and the current year; and
- (g) the steps being taken by the Government to promote Rajasthan as a preferred aviation hub?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

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

(a)  to  (e):  The  upgradation of infrastructures/ facilities at airports is a continuous process, which is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the concerned Airport Operators depending upon operational requirements, traffic, demand, commercial feasibility, availability of land etc. AAI has undertaken the construction of New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport  at  an  estimated  cost  of  Rs.480  crore  with  Probable  Date  of Completion  in  November,  2024.

The state of Rajasthan presently houses seven operational airports. The details are annexed as Annexure - A. Under the Greenfield Airports Policy (GFA), 2008, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has received a proposal for grant of first Stage Clearance i.e. Site Clearance for airport at Kota in Rajasthan. As per GFA Policy, the proposal has been sent to concerned stakeholders including Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) for their comments. After completion of this consultation with stakeholders, the proposal is required to be placed before the Steering Committee on Greenfield Airports for their recommendation, with respect to award of Site Clearance. (f): AAI has allocated a budget of Rs.106.87 crore, Rs.59.45 crore, Rs. 54.30 crore  and  Rs.  135.59  crore  since  2020-21  to  current  financial  year, respectively. (g): International flight operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective countries. Jaipur  is included in the list of 18 tourist destinations where the Indian carriers and carriers of SAARC (except Afghanistan and Pakistan) and ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos) can operate unlimited frequencies subject to availability of slots at the airport. Moreover, in accordance with ASA, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any international airport including Jaipur  to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits. However, start of international flight from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of the airlines on the basis of economic viability of the route and other associated factors.

- *****

## Annexure A

## CURRENT AIR CONNECTIVITY OF RAJASTHAN AIRPORT (AS PER SLOT ALLOCATION)

|   S. No. | Airport Name (Nature of operations)   |   Passenger Handling Capacity (In Million) | Airlines operating                             |
|----------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Jaipur (International)                |                                       5    | Domestic: 7 Airlines International: 5 Airlines |
|        2 | Jodhpur (Domestic)                    |                                       0.69 | 4 Airlines                                     |
|        3 | Udaipur (Domestic)                    |                                       1.6  | 4 Airlines                                     |
|        4 | Kishangarh (Domestic)                 |                                       0.25 | 1 Airlines                                     |
|        5 | Bikaner (Domestic)                    |                                       0.1  | Non-Scheduled Operations                       |
|        6 | Jaisalmer (Domestic)                  |                                       0.32 | Non-Scheduled Operations                       |
|        7 | Kota (Domestic)                       |                                       0.04 | Non-Scheduled Operations                       |