Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3218 regarding the development of a Greenfield airport in Dhanbad. It clarifies the process for airport development under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, and addresses the status of the proposed Dhanbad airport. The State Government of Jharkhand has not yet submitted a proposal for site clearance nor provided consent for the development of the existing Dhanbad airstrip due to land constraints.
Key Points / Main Content:
Greenfield Airport Policy:
* The Government of India (GoI) has a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, for developing new airports.
* To develop an airport, developers (including State Governments) must identify a suitable site, conduct a Pre-feasibility Study, and submit a proposal for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval to the Central Government.
* Implementation, including land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement (RR), and funding, is the responsibility of the airport developer or State Government.
* Project completion timelines depend on land acquisition, clearances (including environmental), and financial closure.
Dhanbad Airport Status:
* Neither the State Government of Jharkhand nor any airport developer has submitted a 'Site Clearance' proposal for a Greenfield Airport at Dhanbad.
* The Dhanbad airstrip, owned by the State Government, is listed as an unserved airstrip in the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) document.
* Bids were received to connect Dhanbad airport during UDAN 5.2 round of bidding for small aircrafts (less than 20-seater).
* The State Government was requested to provide consent and land availability confirmation for the development of the airport, operation of small aircraft (2B), and future expansion (3C).
* The State Government has not given its consent to develop the Dhanbad airport due to land constraints.
Impact Analysis:
State Government of Jharkhand
* Impact: The State Government is responsible for land acquisition and providing consent for airport development at Dhanbad. The lack of available land is hindering progress.
* Action Required: Address land constraints and provide consent and confirmation regarding land availability for airport development and operation.
Airport Developers:
* Impact: Airport developers cannot proceed with the Dhanbad airport project without the State Government's consent and land availability confirmation.
* Action Required: Monitor the situation and engage with the State Government of Jharkhand to explore potential solutions for land constraints.
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
* Impact: The Ministry is responsible for overseeing airport development in accordance with the GFA policy and RCS-UDAN scheme.
* Action Required: Continue to encourage and support the State Government of Jharkhand in addressing land constraints and facilitating airport development.
Citizens of Dhanbad:
* Impact: The lack of airport development hinders connectivity and potential economic growth for the region.
* Action Required: Advocate for the development of the airport and engage with the State Government to address land constraints.
Key Entities Referenced
Dhanbad: City in Jharkhand, India; Location of the proposed Greenfield Airport.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Union Government ministry responsible for civil aviation in India.
Jharkhand: State in India; relevant to the proposed airport development.
Greenfield Airports GFA Policy, 2008: Policy formulated by GoI for development of new Greenfield airports in the country.
Regional Connectivity Scheme RCS UDAN Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik: Government of India scheme to enhance regional air connectivity.
Shri Dulu Mahato: Member of Parliament who raised the question about the airport development.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
PPP model: Public Private Partnership model
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3218
th
(To be answered on the 7 August 2025)
DEVELOPMENT OF GREENFIELD AIRPORT IN DHANBAD
3218. SHRI DULU MAHATO
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government had agreed to take action
for a Greenfield airport in Dhanbad while acceding to the continuous requests
by public representatives thereon and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the State Government of Jharkhand has submitted any progress
report or update to the Union Government in this regard and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the said State Government has shared any concrete details to start
the project in view of land availability and repeated advisories from the Union
Government and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the reasons stated by the State Government for the non-commencement of
flights despite the fact that air services were being operational between
1980–1987, subsequently terminal has been inaugurated in 2008 and
proposals invited under the PPP model in 2011; and
(e) whether the Union Government has formulated any plan to ensure time-
bound cooperation from the State Government of Jharkhand keeping in view
the industrial and religious importance of the project and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (e): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports
(GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of new Greenfield airports in the country.
As per the policy, if any Airport developer including the State Government
desires to develop an airport, they are required to identify a suitable site and
get the Pre-feasibility Study conducted and submit a proposal to the Central
Government for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval. Also the
responsibility for implementation of the Greenfield airport projects including
land acquisition, R&R, funding etc. lies with the concerned airport developeror the State Government, as the case may be. The timeline for completion of
the airport projects depends upon several factors such as land acquisition,
availability of mandatory clearances including environmental clearances,
financial closure etc.
Proposal seeking 'Site Clearance' under GFA Policy has not been received
either from State Government of Jharkhand or any Airport Developer for
construction of a Greenfield Airport at Dhanbad.
The Dhanbad airstrip, owned by State Government of Jharkhand, is available
in the list of unserved airstrips in the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Document. During UDAN 5.2 round of
bidding for Small aircrafts less than 20-seater, bids have been received for
connecting Dhanbad airport in Jharkhand.
Thereafter, State Government of Jharkhand was requested to provide their
consent and confirmation regarding the availability of land for the
development of airport and operation of small aircraft (2B) and for future
expansion to category 3C. The State Government has not yet given their
consent to develop the Dhanbad airport due to land constraints.
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