Lok Sabha Question No. 4451 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Construction of Airport at Kargil
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4451 (To be answered on the 27 th  March 2025)

## CONSTRUCTION OF AIRPORT AT KARGIL

## 4451. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to conduct surveys at new locations in
- Kargil for the construction of a civil airport and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to construct a new civilian airport at Kargil for the operation of small 50-60 seater aircrafts under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in case the operation of larger aircrafts is not feasible at present;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to start 19-seater civilian flight services from the existing Kargil airport anytime soon and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is considering providing any financial support to the airlines, keeping in view the strategic location and the extreme challenges faced by the local people due to the unavailability of flight services; and (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 which prescribes the procedure and conditions for development of new Greenfield airports in the country. There is a two stage process of approval, i.e. 'Site-Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval. At present no request has been received from UT Administration of Ladakh to conduct feasibility study for construction of Civil Airport in Kargil.

In the year 2021, a multi-disciplinary team from Airports Authority of India (AAI), Indian Air Force and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had visited sites at Wakha, Kargil, Turtuk, Diskit, Nyoma and Padum / Zanskar, for examining feasibility of these sites for construction of airports in UT of Ladakh. None of the sites were found suitable for airport construction.

(b) & (c) The UDAN scheme envisages the revival/upgradation of unserved and  underserved  airports  on  its  identification  through  valid  bid  and subsequent award to the Selected Airline Operator ( SAO) to operate the routes connecting the identified airport. As per the provisions, developing new airports does not come under its purview. (d) to (f) During the 2nd round of bidding, under the UDAN, the existing Kargil Airport was identified for development and operation of RCS flights. However, the routes connecting Kargil with Srinagar and Jammu, awarded during the 2nd and 3rd rounds of bidding, were subsequently cancelled. The cancelled routes were re-invited during the UDAN 4.2 bidding round and awarded to SpiceJet to operate 19-seater aircraft with a weekly frequency of 133 seats. However, these routes were again cancelled due to the airport's non-readiness. In the ongoing UDAN 5.4 round of bidding, the cancelled routes connecting Kargil with Srinagar and Jammu have been re-invited. However, no valid proposal has been received. Under the UDAN Scheme, financial support is provided to the participating airlines through Viability Gap Funding and Concessions by the Central

Government, State Governments/ Union Territories and airport operators.

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