Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Development of New Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri P P Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 144

(To be answered on the 5 th  December 2024)

## DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AIRPORTS

## *144. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

## SHRI P P CHAUDHARY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop fifty additional airports over the next five years, if so, the detailed plan and timeline drawn for completion of each airport;
- (b) the manner in which the said initiative aims to enhance the airport ecosystem across the country;
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  expansion  of  the  airport  network  would contribute to job creation and boost commercial activities in the aviation sector;
- (d) whether the Government has identified any locations for the additional airports and carried out feasibility surveys and if so, the details thereof across the country, State-wise particularly in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan;
- (e) the estimated investment required for the proposed airports, State/UTwise, particularly in Rajasthan;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to develop airport at Palghar district in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether the Government has taken initiative for operationalisation of Pali airport in Rajasthan, Latur airport in Maharashtra, singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Bokaro in Jharkhand, recently and if so, the details for each of the airports thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (G) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 144* FOR REPLY ON 05.12.2024 REGARDING "DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AIRPORTS" ASKED BY SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB AND SHRI P P CHAUDHARY

(a) to (f): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21-10-2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country, making air travel affordable to the masses. With the budgetary support of Rs. 1000 crore, Government of India (GoI) has approved the proposal of Revival/Development of 50 more unserved and underserved Airports/Helipads/Water Aerodromes and Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) during the period of 03 years i.e. from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026. 36 aerodromes have been identified for development so far.  As on date, 613 routes connecting 87 unserved and underserved airports (including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes) have been operationalised under the Scheme. More than 146 lakh domestic passengers have travelled through 2.87 Lakh RCS flights.

GoI has also 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 in Arunachal Pradesh, as per Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008.

Out of these, 12 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, 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. As per Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, GoI has not received any proposal for 'Site Clearance' from Government of Maharashtra or any Airport developer for construction of a Greenfield Airport at Palghar in Maharashtra.

The responsibility of implementation of airport projects including financing rests with the concerned airport developer including Airports Authority of India  (AAI)  and  the  respective  State  Government  (in  case  the  State Government  is  the  project  proponent).

Airports have emerged as a nucleus of economic activities and have multiplier effect on the economy of the State. The linkage between the Civil Aviation Sector and Economic Growth is well recognised. Development of airports leads to increase in passenger movements, tourism development, employment generation and augmentation in circle rates of land valuation leading to enhanced collection of various taxes/stamp duties etc., in the respective State and in the overall development of the Country. International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study shows that the air connectivity has an economic multiplier of 3.25 and employment  multiplier of 6.1. (g): Sojat Airstrip in Pali District, Singrauli Airstrip and Latur Airstrip are available in the list of unserved airstrips in the UDAN document. However, no airline operator has submitted any proposal to operate RCS flight from these airstrips till five rounds of bidding under UDAN. Bokaro airport, Jharkhand belonging to Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has been identified for development and operation of RCS flights during 2nd round of bidding under UDAN. The development works at Bokaro airport  had  been  completed.  On  readiness  of  the  airport,  the  Selected Operator may start operation of RCS flights connecting Patna & Kolkata.

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