opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Point of Call Status to Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3366

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## POINT OF CALL STATUS TO AIRPORTS

## 3366.

SHRI MANISH TEWARI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the criteria set for designating an airport as a Point of Call (PoC) for international airlines under the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA);
- (b) the details of all airports currently designated as PoCs under the Bilateral Offer List for foreign airlines in the country;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, serves a large population of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, facilitating international travel for both work and tourism and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the reasons for not designating the said airport as a PoC despite its strategic importance;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  to  include  the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, as a PoC; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be designated as PoC?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): Grant of point of call (PoC) to the designated carriers of foreign countries is a continuous process and is done through bilateral agreements on air services signed between India and foreign countries from time to time. The grant of PoC to the designated carriers of foreign countries depends on factors which include benefits to the Indian aviation sector, presence of Indian

diaspora in that country, plans of Indian carriers, elements of reciprocity, balance of benefits and other relevant factors between two countries. In the Air Services Agreements, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam have been specified as point of calls. (c) No specific study has been conducted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this regard. However, every airport including Chandigarh airport caters to the population of nearby regions. (d) to (f): Representations have been received for designation of Chandigarh as a PoC. However, at present, the Government of India promotes more international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own domestic operations. Accordingly, new nonmetro points including Chandigarh are not being granted as PoC in the ASA to any foreign carrier.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Development of Airports in Bihar under UDAN Scheme
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3360

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## DEVELOPMENT OF AIRPORTS IN BIHAR UNDER UDAN SCHEME

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

3360.

DR. SANJAY JAISWAL

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has received proposals to operationalize new air routes under the UDAN scheme in Bihar, particularly to connect West Champaran and if so, the details thereof along with the status of the said proposals;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any feasibility study for the development of Bettiah Airport in West Champaran and if so, the details thereof along with the findings of these studies; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to expedite air connectivity in the region?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (c): Bids have been received for routes connecting Purnea, Birpur, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Valmiki Nagar, Motihari, Raxaul, Madhubani and Chhapra airports in Bihar under the UDAN Scheme.

The State Government has given consent for the development of the airports namely Birpur, Saharsa, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Valmiki Nagar, Madhubani and  Purnea under the Revival & Upgradation of unserved airstrips scheme to facilitate RCS flight operations. Raxaul airport is being developed by the State Government separately under an agreement with AAI.

The State Government of Bihar who owns Bettiah Airport has not submitted any request for a pre-feasibility study. Additionally, no airline bidder has submitted a proposal for the operation of RCS flights from Bettiah Airport during five rounds of bidding under the Scheme.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: PM Vishwakarma Scheme in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3357

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## PM VISHWAKARMA SCHEME IN ANDHRA PRADESH

3357. DR. C M RAMESH:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  there  are  nearly  one  lakh  enrolments  under  PM  Vishwakarma Yojana

from the district of Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh;

- (b) if so, the total number of successful registrations at the final stage and the number of evouchers

issued for toolkits to artisans from Anakapalli district; and

- (c) the details of loans sanctioned out of nearly one lakh enrolments from the said district?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a): As of 17.03.2025, there are 95,837 enrolments under PM Vishwakarma Yojana from the district of Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh.
- (b) & (c): As  of  17.03.2025,  the  details  of  total  number  of  successful  registrations  at  the final stage, number of e-vouchers issued for toolkits and loans sanctioned to PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries from Anakapalli district are as follows: -

|   Total Successful registration | E-Vouchers Issued   |   No. of Loan Applications Sanctioned |   Sanctioned Loan amount (Rs. in Cr.) |
|---------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|                              94 | 3,004               |                                   494 |                                  3.35 |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Direct Flights from Kolkata to Jeddah
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Mr Pathan Yusuf

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3356

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM KOLKATA TO JEDDAH

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

3356.

MR PATHAN YUSUF

be pleased to state:-

- a) whether it is a fact that there is no direct flight from Kolkata to Jeddah in
2. Saudi Arabia and if so, the details thereof;
3. (b) whether the Government is aware that a huge number of people travel from Kolkata to Jeddah for pilgrimage and if so, the details thereof;
4. (c) whether the Government proposes to start a direct flight from Kolkata to Jeddah; and
5. (d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be
6. started and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (d) At present, there are no direct flight operations between Kolkata and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

The international operations of airlines are governed by the bilateral Air Services Agreement(ASA) between India and the respective country. In accordance with the ASA, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any point including Kolkata to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits, while any designated foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point of call in the ASA. 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.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Monetization of NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

be pleased to state:

- (a) the total length of the National Highways (NHs) in the country;
- (b)  the  length  of  NHs  monetized  thus  far  along  with  the  revenue earned; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure proper maintenance, timely  and effective assistance in case  of any exigencies  and emergencies on the NHs monetized so far?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  The  total  length  of  National  Highways  (NHs)  in  the  country  is 1,46,204 Kms.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3355 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2025

## MONETIZATION OF NHs

3355. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

(b)  The  length  that  has  been  monetized  and  the  revenue  earned through  Asset  Monetization  Mode  from  Financial  Year  2019-20  to Financial Year 2024-25 (15.3.2025) are as under:

| Mode                       |   Length (km) |   Revenue (Rs. in Cr.) |
|----------------------------|---------------|------------------------|
| Toll-Operate-Transfer      |          2565 |                  48995 |
| Infrastructure Investiment |          1523 |                  25900 |
| Toll Securitization        |          1277 |                  50125 |
| TOTAL                      |          5365 |                 125020 |

(c) As  per  the  relevant  clauses  of  the  Model  Concessionaire Agreement (MCA), the Concessionaire is to ensure proper maintenance, timely and effective assistance on the NHs. Clause 15 of the  MCA  of  TOT  model  provides  for  'Operation  and  Maintenance'  of NHs by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Clause 16 of the MCA  of TOT model provides for 'Monitoring of Operation and Maintenance' of NHs and Clause 18 of the MCA of TOT model provides for  'Safety  Requirements'  of  NHs.  Regional  Offices  of  NHAI  monitor the adherence to contractual clauses.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: PACS Plan for Sale of Petroleum Products
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Jai Prakash

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3353 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## PACS Plan for Sale of Petroleum products

## 3353. Shri Jai Prakash:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम एवं Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the measures taken/being taken to expedite the processing of Primary Agricultural  Credit  Society  (PACS)  applications  for  petrol/diesel  outlets  and  LPG distributorships; and
- (b) whether there are any provisions to relax the criterion for PACS, especially in rural areas to encourage better participation and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a)  Subsequent  to  dismantling  of  Administered  Pricing  Mechanism  (APM)  w.e.f. 1.4.2002, the selection of Retail Outlet (RO) dealers and LPG distributorships is done by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) themselves.

A provision of 1% reservation for Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS),along with  Outstanding  Sports  Person  (OSP)  and  Freedom  Fighters  (FF)  under  CC2 (Combined Category 2) for allotment of Retail Outlet has been made in PSU OMCs Dealership  Selection  Guidelines,  2023  for  Retail  Outlets.  In  August  2023,  similar provision has also been made in Unified Guidelines for selection of LPG Distributorships under Combined Category (CC) for allotment of LPG Distributorship to  PACS.  Further,  PACS  have  also  been  given  one-time  option  to  convert  their wholesale consumer pumps into Retail Outlet.

The selection of RO dealerships and LPG distributorships to all applicants  including PACS is done by PSU OMCs through public advertisementfollowed by online process of draw of lots from eligible applicants as per extant laid down procedures. The online process  simplifies  the  application  process.  Procedure  /  Norms  /  Criteria  /Reservation Policy for allotment of RO Dealerships are available at www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in  and  the  detailed  guidelines  regarding  selection  of LPG distributorships are available on the website www.lpgvitarakchayan.in.

- (b) Dealership Selection Guidelines, 2023 for Retail Outlets (ROs) and extant Unified Guidelines  for  selection  of  LPG  distributorshipsdo  not  contain  any  provision  to  relax criterion for grant of RO and LPG distributorships to PACS.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Point of Call Status to Tiruchirappalli Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Durai Vaiko

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3351

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## POINT OF CALL STATUS TO TIRUCHIRAPPALLI AIRPORT

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(a) whether the Government considers declaring Tiruchirappalli as a Point of Call (PoC) airport in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between India and Gulf countries; and

- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

## 3351.

SHRI DURAI VAIKO

be pleased to state:-

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): Grant of point of call (PoC) to the designated carriers of foreign countries is a continuous process and is done through bilateral agreements on air services signed between India and foreign countries from time to time. At present, the Government of India promotes more international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own operations. Accordingly, non-metro points, including Tiruchirappalli, are not granted as new PoC in the ASAs to any foreign carrier.
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Lok Sabha Question No. 3350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Flight Facility from Hindon Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Manoj Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3350 (To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## FLIGHT FACILITY FROM HINDON AIRPORT

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## 3350. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to start direct flight services from Hindon Airport (Ghaziabad) to Gorakhpur Airport;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the timeline fixed for commencement of such services, considering that a majority of residents in the area are from this region;
- (c) whether any airlines have expressed interest in operating on this route under the UDAN/any other scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to enhance regional air connectivity from Hindon Airport?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (d): With the repeal of Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. It is therefore up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability subject to compliance with the extant guidelines in this regard. Airlines plan their domestic flight schedule on a specific route/city based on market demand, commercial feasibility and their company policy.

Hindon Airport is currently connected to Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa, Adampur, Kishangarh, Nanded, Bhatinda and Ludhiana.

Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN seeks to provide connectivity to unserved and under-served airports in the country. Under the current provision of the UDAN scheme, Hindon Airport is a Served Airport.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Digi Yatra Biometric Boarding Policy
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3349

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## DIGI YATRA BIOMETRIC BOARDING POLICY

## 3349. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether it is  true  that  the  Digi  Yatra  Biometric  Boarding Policy allows passengers to avail Digi Yatra without providing facial biometric information, if so, the details thereof and the reasons for not advertising/suggesting/providing this option to passengers at airports;
- (b) whether it is also true that the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem has undergone a CERT-In audit between 01.01.2022 and 01.03.2025 and if so, the details thereof along with the findings of such audit;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to scale up Digi Yatra to hotels, trains and transport services using its facial recognition architecture and if so, the details thereof along with the measures being taken to ensure that the prevalent issues with Digi Yatra in airports do not get replicated in these services;
- (d) whether any stakeholder/public consultation has taken place or would take place before scaling up the Digi Yatra service to various other domains and if so, the details thereof along with the status of availability of consultation documents in public domain;

(e) the details of total funds allocated for the expansion of Digi Yatra across more airports in the country in 2024; and

(f) the details of total funds allocated for the expansion of Digi Yatra into hotels, trains and transport services till 01.03.2025?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a): Digi Yatra is used for biometric-based travel by providing seamless and hasslefree experience for passengers at airports and is based on Facial Authentication Technology. Facial biometric information are required for creating verifiable credential of the passenger. However, the passengers who do not want to avail the Digi Yatra services, may use existing manual process at airports without providing any facial biometric information. (b): Yes, comprehensive CERT-In Audit of Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem has been conducted. It was established in the audit that Digi Yatra ensures compliance to all the industry best practices for data privacy, security and governance. (c): No such proposal is under consideration with the Government. (d): Does not arise. (e): No fund is sanctioned/released by the Government for this initiative. The said expenditure is borne by airport operators. (f): Does not arise.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Greenfield Airport in Bihar
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi

3345.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3345 (To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## GREENFIELD AIRPORT IN BIHAR

## SMT VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposals for setting up of new Greenfield airports in Bihar and if so, the details thereof along with the progress made on the said proposals;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated and utilised so far for the construction of new Greenfield airports;
- (c) the stance of the Government regarding the district-wise land availability proposals received for Greenfield airports; and
- (d) whether the Government has finalized the selection of suitable land and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (d): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 which provides guidelines, procedure and conditions for establishment 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 Pre-feasibility Study conducted for construction of airport and submit a proposal to the

Central Government for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval.

As  per  the  GFA  Policy,  the  responsibility  for  implementation  of  the Greenfield airport project including land acquisition, R&R, funding etc. lies with the concerned airport developer or the State Government, as the case may be.

Government of Bihar (GoB) vide their letter dated 24.01.2025 had submitted a proposal to Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for grant of 'Site Clearance' for establishment of a Greenfield Airport at Rajgir in Bihar. However, the proposal has been returned by MoCA vide letter dated 31.01.2025 with certain observations, requesting GoB to submit the duly filled Site Clearance application along with requisite documents. Besides on the request of GoB, a team of AAI officials has carried out Site visit at Bhagalpur from 17th to 19th February, 2025 for Pre-feasibility Study regarding development of a Greenfield Airport there. GoB, being the project proponent, is required to submit duly filled application seeking 'Site Clearance' for development of Greenfield Airport(s) in Bihar as per the GFA Policy.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3344 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Operation of Foreign Airlines on Domestic Routes
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

- (a) : No
- (b) to (d) : Does not arise
- (e) : The Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme envisaged in National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 provides 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. Under

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3344

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## OPERATION OF FOREIGN AIRLINES ON DOMESTIC ROUTES

## 3344. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is true that the Government is contemplating to allow foreign airlines to operate on domestic routes in the country
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the names of foreign airlines that have submitted proposals in this regard so far;
- (d) the estimated benefits likely to be earned by the Government along with the potential losses likely to be incurred to domestic airlines as a result thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a scheme to operate aviation services on domestic routes in a cost-effective and adequate manner in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

the  Scheme, 625 RCS routes connecting 88 unserved and underserved airports,  including  13  heliports  and  2  water  aerodromes  have  been operationalized so far. More than 149 lakhs domestic passengers have travelled  through 2.97 Lakh RCS UDAN flights.

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