Lok Sabha Question No. 2949 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Construction of New Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2949 (To be answered on the 12 th  December 2024)

## CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AIRPORTS

## 2949. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has prepared any plan to build new airports in the country to boost regional connectivity and connectivity to international routes;
- (b) if so, the details about the cities where these airports are proposed to be constructed;
- (c) the details of promoting civil aviation activities in the State of Rajasthan with a view to improve travel facilities and also to give a boost to the economic activities in the State; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to redevelop Sriganganagar Airport so that it can benefit the adjoining areas of Punjab and Haryana 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 for development of new Greenfield airports in the country through a two stage approval process, i.e. 'Site Clearance' followed by 'InPrinciple'  approval.  As  per  GFA  Policy,  2008,  the  responsibility  for implementation of the Greenfield airport project including land acquisition and its funding etc. lies with the concerned airport developer or the State Government, as the case may be.

So far,  GoI  has  accorded  'In-Principle''  approval  for  setting  up  of  21 Greenfield Airports across the country namely Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai,

Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Rajkot (Hirasar)  in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi , Bhogapuram and Oravakal

(Kurnool) in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Itanagar (Hollongi) in Arunachal Pradesh, as per GFA Policy, 2008. Out of these, 12 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi,  Orvakal  (Kurnool),  Sindhudurg,  Kushinagar,  Itanagar (Hollongi),  Mopa,  Shivamogga  and  Rajkot  (Hirasar)  have  been operationalised. Besides, GoI has also granted 'Site Clearance' for construction of 9 Greenfield airports namely Alwar in Rajasthan, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, Kottayam in Kerala, Puri in Odisha, Doloo in Assam, Parandur in Tamil Nadu, Kota in Rajashtan and Raichur in Karnataka. 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. AAI has taken up works for Construction of new Terminal Building at Jodhpur and Udaipur airport in State of Rajasthan. Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21.10.2016 to promote regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, interested airlines submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. An airport which is included in the awarded routes of UDAN and requires upgradation/development for commencement of UDAN operations, is developed under the 'Revival of unserved and underserved airports' scheme. Under the UDAN scheme, RCS Airports namely Bikaner, Kishangarh & Jaisalmer  in  the  state  of  Rajasthan  have  already  been  developed  and operationalized. Further, Sriganganagar and Uterlai (Indian Air Force) Airports have been identified for development and operation of RCS flights in Rajasthan.

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