Lok Sabha Question No. 4084 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Air Connectivity to Sasaram
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Manoj Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4084 (To be answered on the 19 th  December 2024)

## AIR CONNECTIVITY TO SASARAM

## 4084. SHRI MANOJ KUMAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide air connectivity to Sasaram
- Parliamentary Constituency;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the blueprint of the said airport is likely to be prepared;
- (c) whether the Government agrees with the view that air connectivity from South Bihar, Arrah, Buxar, Kaimur, Aurangabad and Rohtas to Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi, Kolkata and Lucknow would increase the employment opportunities and the number of tourists due to historical and religious sites of the said regions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a)  and  (b):  Arrah,  Buxar,  Bhabua  (Kaimur),  Dehri-  on-  Sone  are airstrips/airports in and around the Sasaram Parliamentary Constituency in Bihar listed in the list of unserved airports under Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). However, no routes connecting these airstrips were awarded to any airline for the operation of RCS flights till the completion of five rounds of bidding. Therefore, the airstrips have not been taken for revival under the UDAN scheme. In case any airline submits a valid proposal for the operation of RCS flights connecting these airstrips in the future bidding round, the same will be considered as per the UDAN Scheme's provisions.

UDAN is a market-driven ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes. Interested airlines, based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. An airport which i s   i n c l u d e d   i n   t h e   awarded  routes  of  UDAN  and  requires upgradation/development  for  commencement  of  UDAN  operations,  is developed under the 'Revival of unserved and underserved airports' scheme. On development and readiness of airport, Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) commence operations on the awarded UDAN routes connecting these airports. (c) and (d): The UDAN Scheme envisaged in National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through revival of existing air strips and airports. In pursuance of the policy, the Government has been taking concrete steps to take flying to the masses by making it affordable, convenient and also provide safe, secure, affordable and sustainable air travel for passengers as well as air transportation of cargo with access to various parts of India and the world and establish an integrated eco-system which is leading to significant growth of the civil aviation sector which in turn is also promoting tourism, increasing employment and leading to balanced regional growth across the country.

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