Lok Sabha Question No. 78 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Growth of Aviation Infrastructure
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 78

(To be answered on the 24 th  July 2025)

## GROWTH OF AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE

## *78. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU

## SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of operational airports, heliports and water aerodromes in the country and the status of their growth;
- (b) the number of operational routes and the number of passengers travelled during the year 2024-25;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to make air travel more accessible and economical to the common man;
- (d) the initiatives undertaken by the Government to modernise and expand airport infrastructure in line with global standards across the country, Statewise; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to develop new airports at Palghar district  of  Maharashtra  and  Pachmarhi,  Matkuli  tourist  places  in Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh during the next five years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 78 FOR ANSWER ON  24.07.2025  REGARDING  "GROWTH  OF  AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE"  BY  SHRI  KHAGEN  MURMU  AND  SHRI DARSHAN  SINGH  CHOUDHARY. (a) & (b): At present, there are 162 operational airports, including heliports and water aerodromes, in the country. During the year 2024-25, Indian airports recorded a total passenger traffic of 412 million, including 77 million international and 335 million domestic passengers, marking a 9% year-onyear growth. During this period, scheduled Indian operators operated on 835 domestic and 251 international routes. (c): In 2016 Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), with the objective of enhancing regional air connectivity and making air travel more affordable for the general public and promoting regional development. The Scheme ensures affordability as the airfares on the seats on which Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is provided are capped at affordable rates, as determined by the government. Since the commencement of the scheme, 637 RCS routes have been operationalised, connecting 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. (d): Modernisation and expansion of infrastructure facilities at existing airports is a continuous process undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the concerned airport operators/developers, depending on traffic  demand,  commercial  viability,  land  availability,  operational requirements for aircraft safety, and demand from airlines. To strengthen the aviation sector in the country, AAI, along with its PPP partners, has incurred a cumulative CAPEX exceeding Rs.96,000 crore during FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25. (e): 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 Airport developer including the State Government desires to develop an airport, they are required to identify a suitable site and get the Prefeasibility study conducted for construction of airport and submit a proposal to the Central Government. GoI has not received any proposal seeking approval under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, for the construction of a Greenfield airport at Palghar in Maharashtra or at Pachmarhi or Matkuli in Madhya Pradesh, either from the concerned State Government or any airport developer.

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