Parliament Question: Air Connectivity in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 817 th (To be answered on the 24 July 2025) AIR CONNECTIVITY IN TAMIL NADU

817. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) the major schemes and initiatives currently being implemented by the Government to enhance air connectivity across the country including Tamil Nadu, especially in remote and underserved areas;

(b) the manner in which the Government is planning to support the growth and modernization of regional airports under its various schemes;

(c) the specific targets set by the Government for the expansion of the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme in the upcoming years; and

(d) the measures being taken to ensure the safety, security and well-being of passengers? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) & (b): The Government launched Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) scheme on 21-10-2016 to facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by reviving unserved and underserved airports in Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities. 637 RCS routes including 26 routes in Tamil Nadu have been operationalized. The scheme has connected 92 unserved and underserved airports across the country.

In the state of Tamil Nadu, four airports namely Salem, Vellore, Neyveli and Tanjore have been identified for the development and operation of RCS flights under the Scheme, of which Salem airport has been operationalised.

To meet growing air traffic and passenger demand, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has launched a Rs.23,000 crore CAPEX plan for 2025-29. The plan includes development, upgradation, and modernization of airports through the construction of new airports and terminals, expansion of existing facilities, runway and apron enhancements, and ANS infrastructure like control towers and technical blocks.(c): The Government has recently announced the launch of the modified UDAN Scheme to increase regional connectivity to 120 new destinations across the country and to cater 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years. The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational and North East region districts.

(d) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the safety regulator of the country, has implemented several measures to bolster aviation safety.

These include:

DGCA maintains a robust safety oversight system, to monitor compliance with Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs). This process includes routine surveillance, spot checks, regulatory and special audits.

DGCA publishes an Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) to guide surveillance and spot checks across various technical areas.

Findings from audits, surveillance activities, and spot checks are rigorously followed up with the concerned operators. Compliance with corrective actions is verified, and observations are closed only after thorough review.

Subsequent audits and surveillances also check the ongoing effectiveness of these actions.

Accident and incident data are regularly analyzed. *****