Lok Sabha Question No. 465 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Upgradation of Moradabad Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 465

(To be answered on the 3 rd  April 2025)

## UPGRADATION OF MORADABAD AIRPORT

## *465. MRS RUCHI VIRA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware that flight operations at Mundha Pande
- Airport, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh remain suspended since 05 December, 2024 and if so, the reasons therefor; (b)  the  details  of  the  cities  targeted  to  be  linked  under  the  Regional Connectivity  Scheme  -  UDAN; (c) the total number of routes allocated under the UDAN scheme along with the total revenue generated from the said routes during the financial year 2023-24; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to connect Moradabad to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other metro cities with air services keeping in view the fact that Moradabad is visited by people for its brass and handicrafts business?

## ANSWER

(Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 465 FOR REPLY ON  03.04.2025  REGARDING  UPGRADATION  OF  MORADABAD

AIRPORT  ASKED  BY  SMT.  RUCHI  VIRA. (a): Flight operations on Moradabad-Lucknow route were commenced by Flybig Airline on 10.08.2024 under the RCS-UDAN scheme. The airline, however, discontinued the flight operation due to poor visibility in North India  from  03.11.2024.  At  present,  resurfacing  work  is  in  progress  at Lucknow airport in a phased manner and the runway is closed during the day time, hence the flight operations cannot be resumed since Moradabad is a VFR airport. (b) & (c): The Government launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)UDAN scheme on 21-10-2016 to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity by reviving unserved and underserved airports in Tier-2 & Tier3 cities. 625 RCS routes connecting 88 unserved and underserved airports including 13 heliports and 02 water aerodromes, have been operationalised across the country under the Scheme. More than 149 lakhs domestic passengers have travelled through RCS-UDAN in more than 2.97 lakh RCS flights. The Government has announced its plan to launch modified UDAN Scheme to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations and carry 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years. The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and North East region districts. The Government does not generate any revenue by operationalising UDAN routes. (d): UDAN is a demand-driven scheme wherein airline operators assess the feasibility of operations on a particular route and bid under the scheme from time to time. If any airline submits a valid bid for the operation of RCS flights connecting Moradabad to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other metro cities in future bidding rounds, the same will be considered as per provisions of UDAN Scheme. Further, with the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network/route they wish to service, depending on their commercial and operational feasibility.

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