Lok Sabha Question No. 835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Increase in Number of Domestic Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH, NINONG ERING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 835

(To be answered on the 3 rd  December 2015)

## INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DOMESTIC AIR PASSENGERS

835. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH SHRI NINONG ERING

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is taking steps to increase the number of
- domestic air passengers in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there has been a growth in domestic air traffic during the last three years in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of new towns and cities in the country connected by air travel during the last three years;
- (d) the cities and towns in the country having airstrips but no air travel
- facility till now; and
- (e) the strategy chalked out to develop the infrastructural facilities at the airports in the country keeping in view the increase in the number of flights  as  well  as  air  passengers  and  the  success  achieved  by  the
- Government as  a  result  thereof  so  far?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a):Government has formulated Route Dispersal Guidelines for expansion of air services and to improve air connectivity in all parts of the Country including the un-served and under served areas.

The Government has taken several measures to help the industry so that benefits percolate down to common man. These steps are persuading State Governments to reduce VAT on ATF, allowing direct import of Aviation Turbine Fuel by Indian Carriers as actual users, permitting foreign airlines to participate upto 49 percent in the equity of scheduled air transport undertaking, allowing ECB for working capital requirement of airline industry for a period of one year subject to a total ceiling of US

$1 billion and tax concession for parts of aircraft and testing equipment for third party maintenance, repair and overhaul of civil aircraft.

(b) Growth in domestic air traffic during the last three years in the country is as under:

| Year Passengers(In previous year (%) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   | Lakh)                                                                                                | Growth over the     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| ---------------------------- 2012 2013 2014 2015 up to Oct                                                                            | 588.19 614.25 673.83 660.60 as against 550.69 Lakhs during the corresponding period of previous year | -5.2 5.2 15.5 19.96 |

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(c):  Seven new towns and cities viz.Cuddapah, Nanded, Agra, Pantnagar,

Durgapur, Car Nicobar & Ponducherry have been connected via air travel in the last three years. (d):  As per the information available there are 153 non-operational airstrips/ airports in various cities and towns of the country. (e) Upgradation and modernization of airstrips/ airports is an ongoing process depending upon the traffic potential, demand from airline operators, commercial viability etc. Hence, Ministry of Civil Aviation & respective airport operators takes initiative to upgrade the airports at regular intervals.

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