**Summary:**
This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4722 regarding the lack of development at Sabeya Airfield in Hathuwa under the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarifies that while Sabeya Airfield is listed as an unserved airport under the UDAN scheme, no bids have been received from airlines to operate Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) flights to and from the airfield. Consequently, revival or upgrade work has not commenced, as per the scheme's provisions which stipulate that such actions are contingent on the identification of a valid bid and subsequent award to a Selected Airline Operator. The Ministry indicates that if a valid proposal for RCS flights connecting Sabeya Airfield is submitted in future bidding rounds, it will be considered in accordance with UDAN scheme guidelines. The response is provided by Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik UDAN: A regional airport development scheme of the Government of India, with the objective to enhance air connectivity to underserved and unserved airports in the country.
Sabeya Airfield: An airfield located in Hathuwa, Bihar, India, that is under consideration for development under the UDAN scheme.
Hathuwa, Bihar: The location of Sabeya Airfield, a town in the state of Bihar, India.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Regional Connectivity Scheme RCS: A component of the UDAN scheme focused on improving air connectivity to regional areas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4722
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
FLIGHTS FROM SABEYA AIRFIELD
4722. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that Sabeya Airfield in Hathuwa has been included under the Ude Desh
Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme for a long time but no developmental work has commenced
to start air travel services and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether it is a fact that the Government has not taken any initiative to motivate private
airline operators to participate in the bidding process for Sabeya Airfield and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any efforts to persuade private airline operators to bid
for operating small or medium flights from Sabeya Airfield and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to construct infrastructure such as terminal
buildings and repair the runway to enable the operation of small flights or flights to various
metropolitan cities and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether it is a fact that no action has been initiated so far in this regard despite several
requests from the public representatives of the region?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) to (e): Sabeya (Hathua) airstrip, Bihar is available in the list of unserved airports in the
Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Document. However, no bid for routes connecting the
Sabeya airport have been received from any airline to operate Regional Connectivity Scheme
(RCS) flights. Therefore, the airstrip is not taken for its revival under the UDAN scheme.
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
Sabeya airstrip in future bidding rounds, the same can be considered as per the UDAN
Scheme's provisions.
******