Lok Sabha Question No. 4428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: National Capacity Alignment Plan for Airport Infrastructure
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4428

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th March 2026 )

## NATIONAL CAPACITY ALIGNMENT PLAN FOR AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

4428.    SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  current  status  of  the  National  Capacity  Alignment  Plan  to  synchronise the development of airport infrastructure with airline fleet expansion;
- (b)  whether  the  existing  infrastructure  is  keeping  pace  with  the  growing passenger traffic and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  current  operational  status  of  all  airports  developed  under  the  UDAN scheme and the steps being taken to improve air connectivity in Tier-3 cities;
- (d)  the  total  number  of  routes  under  the  UDAN  scheme  that  have  become financially sustainable along with the strategy of the Government to make the remaining routes financially sustainable;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes to develop  new  airports  and  modernise the existing airports and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (f)  the  strategy  of  the  Government  regarding  Advanced  Air  Mobility  (AAM) projects and the measures being taken to encourage/support AAM projects; and
- (g) the measures being taken to address the shortage of pilots and other trained aviation personnel along with the outcomes of such measures?

## ANSWER

Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (e): Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has taken various steps including construction of Greenfield Airports, modernization & capacity expansion of the existing  Brownfield  airports  and  revival  of  unserved/under-served  airports under RCS-UDAN for augmenting airport infrastructure to meet the growing air traffic  demand.  As  on  31.03.2025,  Passenger  handling  capacity  at  all  airports was  approx.  535  Million  Passenger  Per  Annum  (MPPA),  whereas  total passenger handled for FY 2024-25 was approx. 412 MPPA.

Under the UDAN scheme, 95 unserved and underserved airports (including 17 heliports  and  02  water  aerodromes)  have  been  operationalised  of  which  15 airports  presently  do  not  have  scheduled  flights  due  to  aircraft  shortage  with airlines  and  presently  336  routes  are  in  operation.  The  Government  has announced a modified UDAN Scheme to increase regional connectivity to 120 new  underserved  and  unserved  destinations,  which  will  support  helipads  and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational and North East region districts.

Airlines  operating  under  UDAN  are  provided  Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF). Airlines  also  benefit  from  concessions  on  airport  and  navigation  charges, reduced VAT and excise duty on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

As  per  Greenfield  Airports  (GFA)  Policy,  2008,  "In-Principle''  approval  has been accorded for setting up of 25 Greenfield Airports, out of which 13 have been  operationalised  and  remaining  are  at  different  stages  of  development namely  Doloo  in  Assam,  Puri  in  Odisha,  Parandur  in  Tamil  Nadu,  Kota  in Rajashtan,  Vijayapura  and  Hassan  in  Karnataka,  Dabra  (Gwalior)  in  Madhya Pradesh,  Noida  (Jewar)  in  Uttar  Pradesh,  Dholera  in  Gujarat,  Karaikal  in Puducherry, Dagadarthi and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh.

Upgradation/modernisation of existing airports is a continuous process depending on traffic demand,  availability of land,  commercial viability, requisite approvals etc.

(f):  Advanced  Air  Mobility  (AAM)  is  an  emerging  area  globally  as  a  new technology  in  air  transport.  MoCA  is  actively  engaging  with  stakeholders  to explore the potential of AAM in India.

(g):  Keeping  in  view  the  increasing  demand  for  skilled  pilots  in  the  country, MoCA periodically undertakes reforms to optimize pilot training capacity and promote skill  development  in  aviation.  Currently,  40  DGCA-approved  Flying Training  Organisations  are  imparting  flying  training  at  62  flying  bases  for issuance of pilot licences.

<!-- image -->