**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 920 in the Lok Sabha, concerning air connectivity in Hingoli, Maharashtra, scheduled for December 4th, 2025. The question asks about the lack of an operational airport in Hingoli, its impact, and any proposals received by the government for airport development in the district. The answer states that no proposal for a Greenfield Airport in Hingoli has been received by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Greenfield Airport (GFA) Policy:**
* Under the GFA Policy of 2008, an airport developer or the State Government intending to establish a Greenfield airport must submit a proposal to MoCA in the prescribed format.
* MoCA considers such proposals as per the procedure stipulated in the GFA Policy.
* **Current Status:**
* MoCA has not received any proposal for the development of a Greenfield Airport in Hingoli, Maharashtra.
* **Revival of Unserved/Underserved Airstrips Scheme:**
* Only existing airstrips are considered for development under this scheme.
* Development is undertaken upon identification in bidding rounds under UDAN for operating RCS flights.
**Impact Analysis**
**Project Proponent (Airport Developer or State Government)**
* **Impact:** The absence of a received proposal for a Greenfield Airport in Hingoli means the area lacks civil air connectivity.
* **Action Required:** If the State Government of Maharashtra, or an airport developer, desires to establish a Greenfield airport in Hingoli, they must submit a proposal to MoCA in the prescribed format, as stipulated in the GFA Policy.
**Residents of Hingoli**
* **Impact:** Currently there is no civil airport in Hingoli, creating difficulty for those seeking emergency medical evacuation, or those who must travel long distances.
* **Action Required:** Lobby to the State Government for increased consideration for a proposal.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA): The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector.
UDAN: A regional connectivity scheme in India aimed at making air travel affordable and accessible to a wider population.
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008: A policy framework by the Government of India that outlines the guidelines and procedures for the development of new (greenfield) airports.
Hingoli, Maharashtra: A district in Maharashtra, India, which is the subject of a parliamentary question regarding air connectivity.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 920
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
AIR CONNECTIVITY IN HINGOLI, MAHARASHTRA
920. SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that Hingoli district currently does not have
any operational civil airport thereby compelling residents, farmers, traders, students
and those requiring emergency medical evacuations to travel long distances resulting
in increased time cost, inconvenience and risk and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the distance and travel time from Hingoli town or Government-
designated centres within the district to the nearest operational airports along with
the estimated economic, tourism, medical and trade losses incurred due to lack of
civil air connectivity; and
(c) whether the Government has received or considered any proposal from the
State Government of Maharashtra for the identification, survey, feasibility study,
site-selection or development of a greenfield or brownfield airstrip/airport in Hingoli
district under the regional connectivity scheme such as UDAN or any other policy
framework and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): Under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 of the Government of
India, the project proponent - an airport developer or the respective State
Government willing to establish a Greenfield airport is required to send a proposal
to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in the prescribed format. Such proposals
are considered by MoCA as per the procedure stipulated in the GFA Policy. Atpresent, no proposal has been received in this Ministry for the development of a
Greenfield Airport in Hingoli, Maharashtra as per the GFA Policy.
Under the 'Revival of unserved/underserved airstrips' Scheme, only existing airstrips
are taken up for development upon identification in bidding rounds under UDAN for
operating RCS flights.
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