Lok Sabha Question No. 6400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Development of Additional Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. Lata Wankhede, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Arun Bharti, Smt. Shambhavi, Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 6400

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2nd April 2026 )

## DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL AIRPORTS

6400.    DR. LATA WANKHEDE SHRI RAJESH VERMA SHRI ARUN BHARTI SMT SHAMBHAVI DR. D. PURANDESWARI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop fifty additional airports during the next five years,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  locations,  funding  sources  and  implementation timelines and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  the  details  and  the  objectives  of  this  expansion  drive  with  respect  to  enhancing connectivity, regional development and economic opportunities;
- (c)  whether  any  assessment  has  been  made  of  the  potential  real  estate,  employment  and industrial  opportunities  arising  from  airport  infrastructure  growth,  particularly  in  Madhya Pradesh, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the measures proposed to be taken to ensure environmental safeguards, transparency in land acquisition and stakeholder consultations; and
- (e)  the  expected  impact  of  the  airport  development  programme  on  tourism,  logistics  and regional  investment,  particularly  in  Sagar,  Khagaria,  Jamui,  Samastipur  and  Rajahmundry Lok Sabha Constituencies?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): Government constantly endeavours to get more airports developed and operationalised to cater to the growing aspirations of people for air travel. In this regard, the Government  is  following  a  multi  pronged  approach  of  developing  Greenfield  Airports, developing existing airstrips through Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), and initiatives for airport development by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators. As a result, the total number of operational airports in the country has increased to 164 (as on 28.02.2026) including Greenfield Airports/helipads/Water Aerodromes. RCS-UDAN is funded through budgetary support.

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Government has also launched Modified UDAN Scheme to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations in the next 10 years.

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Airport  operators/developers  are  responsible  for  implementation  of  the  airport  projects including obtaining environmental clearance; land acquisition, rehabilitation & resettlement etc.  in  consultation  with  stakeholders  concerned,  adhering  to  the  extant  legal  provisions  in this regard.

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.;

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