Lok Sabha Question No. 3571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-10
Subject: Expansion of Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Tirath Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3571 (To be answered on the 10 th  August 2023)

## EXPANSION OF AIRPORTS

## 3571. SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has any scheme to expand the existing airports as the country would be the third largest aviation market of the world by the year 2024;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  number  of  existing  airports  upgraded  as  per  the  international standards to cater to the increasing number of foreign tourists in the country?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a)  &  (b):  The  expansion  of  airports  including  the  upgradation  of infrastructures/ facilities  at  airports,  is  a  continuous  process,  which  is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the concerned Airport  Operators  depending  upon  operational  requirements,  traffic, demand, commercial feasibility etc. AAI and other Airport Operators have embarked upon a Capex Plan for more than Rs.98,000 crore including around Rs.25,000 crore by AAI during 2019-24 for development/ upgradation/ modernisation of various brownfield airports and developing Greenfield Airports to meet the growing demands. AAI has undertaken development/ expansion of Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Vijayawada and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Itanagar and Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, Dibrugarh in Assam, Darbhanga and Patna in Bihar, Safdarjung in Delhi, Goa in Goa, Dholera, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara in Gujarat, Leh in Ladakh, Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Calicut in Kerala, Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Juhu, Kolhapur and Pune in Maharashtra, Imphal in Manipur, Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, Agartala in Tripura, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Muirpur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Dehradun in Uttarakhand and Kolkata in West

Bengal.  The  upgradation  endeavors  encompass  several  enhancements, ranging from the construction of terminal buildings and ATC tower cum technical blocks to the expansion of civil enclave, extension, strengthening, and re-carpeting of runways, as well as the creation of aprons, parking bays, and other associated infrastructure improvements. The Government of India has also formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of Greenfield airports in the country. As per the policy, if any 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. So far, Government of India has accorded 'In-Principle' approval for setting up of 21 new Greenfield Airports. Out of these, 12 Greenfield airports have been operationalised. Besides, in order to enhance the regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country, Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) on

21.10.2016 making air travel affordable to the masses.

(c): The upgradation of airports to meet International Standards/Norms specified by International Organizations such as International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) etc. is undertaken by AAI or the concerned Airport Operators taking into account various  considerations,  including  the  commercial  aspect,  traveler requirements, land situation and airline preferences. Declaration of an airport as International Airport depends upon traffic potential, demand from airlines for operation of international flights and bilateral Air Services Agreement. It also includes provision of Ground Lighting facilities, Instrument Landing System, runway length, Immigration, Health and Animal & Plant Quarantine services etc. At present, there are 30 international airports in the country.

- *****