Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2161, addressed to the Minister of Civil Aviation by Smt. Joba Majhi, concerns air connectivity in West Singhbhum. It questions the government's awareness of the lack of air connectivity in West Singhbhum (Chaibasa) despite its economic importance, the existence of proposals under the UDAN scheme to upgrade the Chaibasa airstrip, and whether a feasibility study has been commissioned.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, responded that the Chaibasa airstrip, owned by the State Government in Jharkhand, currently functions as a helipad without an operational runway, but is listed as an unserved airstrip in the UDAN document. No airline bidder has submitted proposals to operate RCS flights from Chaibasa airstrip to date. Revival/upgradation is undertaken through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator as per scheme provisions. Valid proposals submitted in future bidding rounds will be considered according to Scheme provisions.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN scheme: A regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India.
Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION: The government body responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation in India.
Chaibasa airstrip: An airstrip located in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand: The state in which Chaibasa and West Singhbhum are located.
West Singhbhum: The district in Jharkhand where the Chaibasa airstrip is located. The subject of the air connectivity question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2161
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th February 2026 )
AIR CONNECTIVITY IN WEST SIGHBHUM
2161. SMT JOBA MAJHI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that West Singhbhum (Chaibasa) is deprived of
direct air connectivity despite being a major revenue-generating hub due to iron ore
mining and the presence of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), forcing residents
to travel about 200 km to Ranchi by treacherous routes and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal under the UDAN scheme to upgrade and
operationalise the existing airstrip at Chaibasa as a regional airport which could promote
industrial activities and tourism in the Saranda forest area and if so, the details thereof;
and
(c) whether any feasibility study has been commissioned for this purpose and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): Chaibasa airstrip owned by the State Government, located in the West
Singhbhum district of Jharkhand is presently being used as a helipad and does not have
an operational runway. However, the airstrip is available in the list of unserved airstrips
in the UDAN document. No airline bidder has submitted proposals to operate RCS
flights from Chaibasa airstrip till date. As per the provisions of the scheme, revival
/upgradation of unserved and underserved airports is undertaken upon its identification
through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator.
In case any airline submits a valid proposal for the operation of RCS flights connecting
Chaibasa airstrip in future bidding rounds, the same may be considered as per Scheme
provisions.
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