opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Development of Airstrip in Rajasthan
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 586

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## DEVELOPMENT OF AIRSTRIP IN RAJASTHAN

586.

SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to develop 14 airstrips in Rajasthan including in Nagaur under the National Airport Development Plan through the Airports Authority of India and if so, the
- details thereof;
- (b) the details of the progress made so far regarding the development plans of
- the said airstrips;
- (c) the time by which the said airstrips are likely to be developed as per the action plan of the Government; and
- (d) the details of the infrastructural requirements to be fulfilled for the development of the Nagaur airstrip?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (c): The expansion and development of infrastructure at airports is a continuous process and is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Operators from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand and willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports. The responsibility for implementation of the airport project including land acquisition, funding, R&R etc. lies with the concerned airport developer or the State Government, as the case may be. The timeline for completion of the airport  projects  depends  upon  many  factors  such  as  land  acquisition, availability  of  mandatory  clearances,  financial  closure  etc.
- (d):  Nagaur Airstrip belongs to State Government of Rajasthan and is available in the tentative list of unserved airports/airstrips in the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Document.

However, none of the airline bidders have submitted the proposal to operate RCS flight from Nagaur airstrip till completion of five rounds of bidding under UDAN.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: New Airport in Raigarh
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Radheshyam Rathiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 584

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## NEW AIRPORT IN RAIGARH

## 584. SHRI RADHESHYAM RATHIYA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has proposed/is considering a new airport in Raigarh Lok Sabha Constituency of Chhattisgarh under UDAN Scheme; and (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (b): Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCSUDAN) is a market-driven Scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations and routes. Based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, interested airlines submit their proposals connecting the Airports at the time of bidding under UDAN. In the first round of bidding under the scheme, Raigarh Airport was listed in RCS document for

bidding.

The Airport owner, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JS&PL) neither gave consent for developing the airport nor provided necessary concessions to the SAOs, which are required as per provisions of the scheme. Due to which, Raigarh airport was deleted from the list of unserved airports in the UDAN document for future bidding rounds.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Piped Water Supply to Tribal Households
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581 ANSWERED ON 06/02/2025

## PIPED WATER SUPPLY TO TRIBAL HOUSEHOLDS

## 581. Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Government is planning to provide piped water supply to tribal households under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan in Telangana;
- (b) the percentage of tribal villages in Telangana currently have access to clean drinking water;
- (c) the steps taken / being taken by the Government to address this gap of complete coverage; and
- (d) the mechanism put in place to ensure the regular maintenance of piped water infrastructure in tribal regions of Telangana?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (d) : As reported by State Government, 924 tribal villages (>40% ST houses) are identified in  Telangana  out  of  which  883  villages  are  covered  under  MVS  and  SVS  schemes  and  the remaining 41 villages are being covered with local private sources.

In case of MVS schemes, Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of bulk water supply is being looked after by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, Government of Telangana up to village point. In-village infrastructure is being operated and maintained by the respective Gram Panchayats (GPs) under the technical supervision of Mission Bhagiratha Department. GPs are ensuring water supply to every household within the village. Trainings have been imparted to village watermen to equip with comprehensive skills to carry out minor repairs and maintenance including preventive maintenance.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Development of Parandur Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 578

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## DEVELOPMENT OF PARANDUR AIRPORT

## 578. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  details  of  action  taken  by  the  Government  in  respect  of  the development  of  Parandur  airport  in  Tamil  Nadu;
- (b) whether the Government provides any assistance to the State Government of Tamil Nadu for the development of Parandur airport and if so, the details
- thereof; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  providing  assistance  to  the  State  for compliance like soil testing, etc. for the construction of the airport and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), a Government of Tamil Nadu Enterprise had submitted an application to Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  (MoCA)  for  grant  of  'Site  Clearance'  for development of a Greenfield airport at Parandur, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. In August, 2024, MoCA granted Site Clearance approval to TIDCO for development of Greenfield Airport at Parandur, Tamil Nadu. Thereafter, application for grant of 'In-Principle' approval has been received from TIDCO.

As per the GFA Policy, 2008, the responsibility for implementation of the Greenfield airport project including land acquisition, funding, R&R etc. lies with the concerned airport developer or the State Government, as the case may be. The timeline for completion of the airport projects depends upon many factors such as land acquisition, availability of mandatory clearances, financial closure etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 574 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Expressway in Bihar
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  not  a  single  national  road  expressways  are  passing through the district Gopalganj of Bihar despite it being on one of the best trade development routes of the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)      whether  the  national  road  expressways  given  to  States  were without consideration of the issues related to the commercial viability of trade in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)      the  details  about  the  number  of  National  Highways  passing through  district  Gopalganj  of  Bihar  and  the  development  related projects pending on those National Highways;
- (d)      the  details  of  the  progress  of  the  proposed  project  of  National Highways  passing  through  the  State  of  Bihar,  especially  in  district Gopalganj; and
- (e)      the  total  amount  sanctioned  and  spent  for  the  development  of National  Highways  passing  through  the  State  of  Bihar,  especially  in district Gopalganj?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 574 ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## EXPRESSWAY IN BIHAR

574. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (a)  to  (c)   Two  National  Highways,  NH-531  and  NH-27  (East-West Corridor),  traverse  the  Gopalganj  district.  However,  at  present,  no National Expressway is passing through the district. Decisions regarding development of National Expressway are taken based on the fulfillment  of  the  criteria,  logistic  corridors  for  movement  of  freight from  origin  to  destination  requirement  of  connectivity,  traffic  study, inter-se priority and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Further, a Four lane Elevated Highway and at grade improvements at Gopalganj Town from Km. 384.000 to Km. 386.750 on NH-27 has been approved.

- (d)  and  (e)        The  budgetary  allocation  and  expenditure  for  the development and maintenance of NHs in the state of Bihar including Gopalganj  district  during  last  Five  years  and  the  current  year  is  as under:

| FY                        | Allocation (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure (Rs. in Crore)   |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2019-20                   | 4,392                       | 4,392                        |
| 2020-21                   | 6,716                       | 6,716                        |
| 2021-22                   | 9,174                       | 9,174                        |
| 2022-23                   | 9,347                       | 9,347                        |
| 2023-24                   | 10,749                      | 10,749                       |
| 2024-25 (till 31.12.2024) | 6,159                       | 5,599                        |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Funds to Struggling Airlines
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 573

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## FUNDS TO STRUGGLING AIRLINES

## 573. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has allocated any budget to provide financial assistance to struggling airlines and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the provisions made in the budget to reduce the debt burden of the aviation companies of the country;
- (c)  the  details  of  any  specific  budget allocation for subsidizing regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme;
- (d) the amount of funds allocated to improve the financial viability of lossmaking airports; and
- (e) the budgetary provisions made for upgrading aviation infrastructure in the current financial year?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Government creates an enabling ecosystem for civil aviation to grow in a safe and sustainable manner and to enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance, but does not interfere in the commercial/financial decisions and manner of operations of the Airlines.
- (c) to (e): Rs. 4500 Cr. was allocated for revival/upgradation of unserved and underserved Airports/Heliports/Water Aerodromes in the country under UDAN scheme. Further, an amount of Rs. 1000 Cr. was allocated by the Government for Phase II of the Scheme to revive additional 50 Airports, Heliports, Water Aerodromes and Advanced Landing Grounds for improving regional air connectivity. Rs. 598 Cr. has been allocated under Phase -I and Phase -II under the UDAN Scheme for FY 2024-25.

To ensure the affordability of regional air travel, the UDAN scheme provides financial incentives to airline operators on regional routes that include: Concessions  by  the  Central  Government,  State  Governments/  Union Territories and airport operators to reduce airline operation costs and also the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues on such routes

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Mechanism for Resolving Consumer Issues
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 570

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## MECHANISM FOR RESOLVING CONSUMER ISSUES

570.

SHRI HIBI EDEN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (c): As per the prevailing regulations, aggrieved passengers are required to lodge his/her complaint with the concerned airline. For timely redressal of passenger grievances, every airline appoints a Nodal officer and an Appellate Authority and displays the contact details of them on their respective website. If the airlines fail to fulfill their obligations, the passenger may complain to the statutory bodies set up under relevant applicable laws.

The air passengers can also lodge their complaints through Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) portal, Integrated Grievance Redress Mechanism (INGRAM) portal and AirSewa mobile app / web portal of Government of India.

In addition, the air passengers can also address their complaints through emails or physical complaints to the Public Grievance Officer (PGO) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation or its attached / subordinate organizations. The complaints are regularly monitored by the PGO notified by the Ministry of

Civil Aviation and its attached / sub-ordinate organization.

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  details  of  the  mechanism  currently  existing  in  the  Ministry  for resolving consumer disputes on a speedy basis;
- (b) whether the Government has taken/proposed to take any steps to set up an Aviation Ombudsman in light of the rising consumer complaints relating to the aviation sector in the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

As on date, no proposal is underway for setting up an Aviation Ombudsman in the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Height of Underpass at PC Road Chalil Motta along NH-66
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether the Government is aware of the underpass allotted at PC Road Chalil Motta (CH150+100) along NH-66 in Kannur, which has been sanctioned with a height of 2.90 metres, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the current height of the underpass is inadequate for emergency vehicles such as fire engines to pass through, thereby posing risks to public safety and emergency response effectiveness in the area, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)     whether the Government has taken note of the public outcry and taken any steps to review and revise the height of the underpass to 3.70 metres to ensure safe and efficient passage of emergency vehicles; and
- (d)      if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  the  delay  in addressing this pressing safety concern?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  to  (d)   Yes  Sir.  A  Box  structure  at  km  151.1  has  been  provided  under Change of  Scope  for  pedestrians  to  cross  the  National  Highways  (NH).  The alignment of NH  at this location is on super-elevation and  height of embankment is enabling to provide vertical clearance of 2.9m only.

A viaduct (13 spans of 40m each) is already provided from km 149.68 to km 149.69 which is to be used for crossing of vehicles including emergency vehicle.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 569

## ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## HEIGHT OF UNDERPASS AT PC ROAD CHALIL MOTTA ALONG NH-66

569.  SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
Lok Sabha Question No. 566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Flights from Kolkata Airport to Middle East Countries
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Mr Pathan Yusuf

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 566

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## FLIGHTS FROM KOLKATA AIRPORT TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

566.

MR PATHAN YUSUF

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that there is no direct flight from Kolkata to Saudi Arabia and other middle east countries, if so, the details thereof and the
- reasons therefor;
- (b) whether Government is aware that a large number of people travel from Kolkata to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage; and
- (c) if so, the time by which the Government would start the direct flight for Saudi Arabia and other middle east countries from Kolkata?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) Presently, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Dubai Aviation Corporation (Flydubai), Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are operating 32 flights per week from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha. (b) Yes.

- (c)  The International flight operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective countries. In accordance with ASA, any designated foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point of call in the ASA. Kolkata is available as a point of  call  for  the  designated  carriers  of  most  of  the  middle  east  countries including UAE (Dubai), UAE (Abu Dhabi), Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Moreover, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any international airport including Kolkata to any foreign destinations including Saudi Arabia and other middle east countries as per mutually agreed capacity limits. However, the start of direct international flights from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of scheduled airlines on the

basis of passenger demand, availability of slots, economic viability of the route and  other  associated  factors.  The  Government  provides  an  enabling environment for growth of civil aviation sector but does not interfere in the operational plans of the airlines.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Regulation of Fare System for Cab Aggregators
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri G Lakshminarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 565 ANSWERED ON 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2025

## REGULATION OF FARE SYSTEM FOR CAB AGGREGATORS

565. SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  cab  aggregators  often charge  fares  higher  than  those  set  by  Government-regulated  taxi fare systems and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  measures  the  Government  has  taken  or  plans  to  take  to regulate fare structures for cab aggregators to ensure they are not charging exorbitant rates, particularly during peak hours;
- (c) whether surge in pricing by cab aggregators is being monitored and regulated by the Government, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to ensure fare transparency for consumers;
- (d) the steps being taken to protect consumers from being charged disproportionately  high  amounts,  especially  when  compared  to Government-regulated fare systems; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering the implementation of a uniform fare structure across all modes of transportation, including private aggregators and Government-run taxi services and if so, the timeline for such implementation?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (e) (i) Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has  issued  the  Motor  Vehicle  Aggregators  Guidelines,  2020  in accordance  with  Section  93  of  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988  on  27th November, 2020. These guidelines provide a guiding framework to the  State/  UT  Governments  to  consider  for  issuance  of  license  as well as regulating the business being conducted by such Aggregators.  Clause  13  of  the  Guidelines  deal  with  regulation  of fares. The Clause includes provisions related to base minimum fare, maximum surge pricing and distribution of fare between drivers and aggregators. (ii) Transportation by Road is a State subject and the role of Union Government  is  to  notify  the  rules/  regulations  under  the  Motor Vehicles  Act,  1988  and  Central  Motor  Vehicles  Rules,  1989.  The implementation  of  provisions  of  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988  and Central  Motor  Vehicles  Rules,  1989  comes  under  the  purview  of State Transport Authority of the concerned State/ UT. Regulation of fare structure for road transportation, including private aggregators and Government-run taxi services is under the purview of respective cities/ States/ Union Territories.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Airport at Dahod
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 563

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## AIRPORT AT DAHOD

## 563. SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the current status of the survey of the proposed Airport at Dahod in Gujarat; and
- (b) the action being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) & (b): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of new Greenfield airports in the country. As per the policy, if any developer including the State Government desires to develop an airport, they are required to identify a suitable site and get the Pre-feasibility Study conducted for construction of airport and submit a proposal to the Central Government for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'InPrinciple' approval.

On the request of State Government of Gujarat, a multi-disciplinary team of AAI visited the proposed site location for conducting the Pre-Feasibility study and after conducting the study proposed site was found to be technically feasible for the development of an airport at Dahod district.

The Pre-Feasibility Report was sent to the State Government on 22.07.2024.

However, State Government has relocated site on account of Tribal area.

Government of India (GoI) has not received any proposal for 'Site Clearance' under Greenfield Airports Policy from State Government of Gujarat (GoG) or any Airport Developer for construction of a Greenfield Airport at Dahod, Gujarat so far.

*****