Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation addressed Lok Sabha Question No. 4770 on August 21, 2025, regarding Greenfield and Brownfield airports. The response outlines the Government of India's Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, approvals accorded in the last 10 years, current proposals under consideration, and the progress of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN). It also addresses airport development in Telangana.
Key Points / Main Content:
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy:
* The GFA Policy, 2008, guides the development of new Greenfield airports.
* Developers, including State Governments, must conduct a Pre-feasibility Study and submit proposals for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval to the Central Government.
Greenfield Airport Approvals:
* In the last 10 years, 'In-Principle' approval has been granted for 10 Greenfield airports: Dholera, Noida, Bhogapuram, Dagadharthi Kurnool, Rajkot Hirasar, Itanagar Hollongi, Parandur, Kota and Puri.
* An application seeking 'In-Principle' approval for the Kottayam Greenfield Airport Project is under review.
* No proposals have been received for Greenfield Airports in Telangana under the GFA Policy.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN):
* Launched on October 21, 2016, to enhance regional air connectivity and affordability.
* Bidding rounds are conducted to expand connectivity from unserved and underserved airports.
* 637 RCS routes connecting 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes, have been operationalized. (See Annexure for a state-wise list).
Telangana Airport Development:
* Approval has been granted in February 2025 for the development of the existing Warangal Mamnoor Airport.
* The Exclusivity Clause of the Concession Agreement relating to Hyderabad Greenfield Airport has been waived.
Impact Analysis:
Airport Developers (including State Governments):
* Impact: Must follow the GFA Policy for Greenfield airport development, including conducting pre-feasibility studies and seeking required approvals.
* Action Required: Identify suitable sites, conduct Pre-feasibility Studies, and submit proposals for Site Clearance and In-Principle approval.
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
* Impact: Responsible for reviewing and approving Greenfield airport proposals and managing the RCS-UDAN scheme.
* Action Required: Continue to process applications, conduct bidding rounds under RCS-UDAN, and monitor the progress of approved airport projects.
Airlines:
* Impact: Can participate in RCS-UDAN bidding rounds to expand connectivity to underserved regions.
* Action Required: Assess demand for specific routes and submit bids under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Citizens:
* Impact: Benefit from enhanced regional air connectivity and more affordable air travel through the RCS-UDAN scheme.
* Action Required: Utilize the expanded air connectivity options and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Greenfield Airports GFA Policy, 2008: Policy formulated by the Government of India for the development of new Greenfield airports in the country.
Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik RCSUDAN: Scheme launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21st October 2016 to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable.
Telangana: A state in India for which proposals for Greenfield Airports are being considered, and where Warangal Airport is being developed.
Warangal Mamnoor Airport: Existing airport in Telangana approved for development by waiving the Exclusivity Clause of the Concession Agreement relating to Hyderabad Greenfield Airport.
Dholera, Gujarat: Greenfield airport in Gujarat for which In-Principle approval has been accorded.
Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Greenfield airport in Uttar Pradesh for which In-Principle approval has been accorded.
Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh: Greenfield airport in Andhra Pradesh for which In-Principle approval has been accorded.
Kottayam Greenfield Airport Project: Greenfield Airport project for which application seeking InPrinciple approval is under consideration.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4770
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
GREENFIELD AND BROWNFIELD AIRPORTS
4770. SHRI GODAM NAGESH
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of Greenfield and Brownfield airports sanctioned in the country during the last
ten years, year and State-wise;
(b) whether there are any new proposals under consideration for the sanction of Greenfield or
Brownfield airports and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(c) whether any proposals have been submitted or approved for Telangana and if so, the
details thereof including location, status of approval and timeline fixed for implementation?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) to (c): 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.;
In last 10 years, In-Principle approval has been accorded for development of 10 Greenfield
airports namely Dholera in Gujarat, Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Bhogapuram, Dagadharthi &
Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, Rajkot (Hirasar) in Gujarat, Itanagar (Hollongi) in Arunachal
Pradesh, Parandur in Tamil Nadu, Kota in Rajasthan and Puri in Odisha.;
At present, application seeking In-Principle approval for Kottayam Greenfield Airport Project
has been circulated to the Government Ministries/Departments/Organizations concerned for
their observations/recommendations/No Objection. Further, no proposal has been received
seeking approvals under GFA Policy for construction of Greenfield Airports in Telangana.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme -Ude
Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) on 21st October 2016 to enhance regional air
connectivity and make air travel affordable for the common citizen. RCS-UDAN is an
ongoing market-driven scheme wherein bidding rounds are conducted periodically to expand
connectivity from unserved and underserved airports. Based on assessed demand for specific
routes, airlines submit bids under the Scheme. Valid bids are awarded to airlines for
operationalisation of Routes under the Scheme post-readiness of the airport.637 RCS routes connecting 92 unserved and underserved airports (including 15 heliports &
02 water aerodromes) have been developed & operationalized across the country. State-wise
list of these airports is at Annexure.
Further, GoI in February, 2025 has accorded approval for development of existing Warangal
(Mamnoor) Airport in Telangana, by waiving the Exclusivity Clause of the Concession
Agreement relating to Hyderabad Greenfield Airport.
******Annexure
Statement referred in part (a) to (c) of reply of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
4770 for answer on 21.08.2025
List of 92 RCS Airports Operationalized under UDAN
Airport / Heliports /
S.No. State Date of Operationalisation
Water Aerodromes
1 Kadapa 27-04-2017
Andhra Pradesh
2 Kurnool 28-03-2021
3 Hollongi 15-01-2023
Arunachal
4 Tezu 15-08-2021
Pradesh
5 Passighat 24-05-2021
6 Jorhat 01-08-2018
7 Lilabari 15-01-2019
Assam
8 Rupsi 08-05-2021
9 Tezpur 26-04-2018
10 Bihar Darbhanga 08-11-2020
11 Bilaspur 01-03-2021
12 Chhattisgarh Jagdalpur 14-06-2018
13 Ambikapur 19-12-2024
14 Daman & Diu Diu 24-02-2018
15 Bhavnagar 01-05-2018
16 Jamnagar 17-02-2018
17 Kandla 01-07-2017
18 Keshod 16-04-2022
Gujarat
19 Mundra 17-02-2018
20 Porbandar 10-07-2017
21 Sabarmati River 31-10-2020
22 StatuFer oofn Ut(Wnit)y (W) 31-10-2020
23 Haryana Hissar 14-01-2021
24 Kullu 13-05-2019
25 Himachal Shimla 27-04-2017
26 Pradesh Mandi(H) 09-12-2021
27 Rampur(H) 14-12-2021
28 Jamshedpur 31-01-2023
Jharkhand
29 Deoghar 12-07-2022
30 Belgaum 01-05-2019
31 Bidar 07-02-2020
32 Hubli 14-05-2018
33 Karnataka Kalaburgi 22-11-2019
34 Mysore 02-09-2017
35 Shivamogga 21-11-2023
36 Vidyanagar 21-09-201737 Kerala Kannur 25-01-2019
38 Lakshadweep Agatti 18-04-2024
39 Gwalior 31-05-2017
40 Madhya Pradesh Rewa 25-11-2024
41 Datia 31-05-2025
42 Gondia 13-03-2022
43 Jalgaon 23-12-2017
44 Kolhapur 08-04-2018
45 Maharashtra Nanded 27-04-2017
46 Ozar (Nasik) 23-12-2017
47 Sindhudurg 09-10-2021
48 Amravati 16-04-2025
49 Jiribam(H) 13-03-2024
Manipur
50 Tamenglong(H) 13-03-2024
51 Meghalaya Shillong (Barapani) 26-04-2018
52 Nagaland Dimapur 07-12-2019
53 Jeypore 03-08-2022
54 Jharsuguda 22-09-2018
Odisha
55 Rourkela 07-01-2023
56 Utkela 31-08-2023
57 Puducherry (U.T.) Pudicherry 16-08-2017
58 Adampur 01-05-2018
59 Bhatinda 27-04-2017
Punjab
60 Ludhiana 02-09-2017
61 Pathankot 05-04-2018
62 Bikaner (Nal) 26-09-2017
63 Rajasthan Jaisalmer 29-10-2017
64 Kishangarh 08-10-2018
65 Sikkim Pakyong 04-10-2018
66 Tamil Nadu Salem 25-03-2018
67 Agra 08-12-2017
68 Aligarh 11-03-2024
69 Azamgarh 11-03-2024
70 Bareilly 08-03-2021
71 Chitrakoot 12-03-2024
72 Hind on 11-10-2019
73 Kanpur ( chakeri) 03-07-2018
74 Uttar Pradesh Kushinagar/ Kasia 26-11-2021
Prayagraj /
75 14-06-2018
Allahabad
76 Shravasti 12-03-2024
77 Moradabad 10-08-2024
78 Uttarakhand Pantnagar 04-01-201979 Pithoragarh 17-01-2019
80 Almora(H) 26-08-2022
81 Champawat (H) 22-02-2024
82 Chinyali Saur (H) 08-02-2020
83 Gaucher (H) 08-02-2020
84 Haldwani(H) 08-10-2021
85 Munsyari, 22-02-2024
86 PNitehwor aTgeahrrhi( H(H) ) 29-07-2020
87 Sahastradhara(H) 08-02-2020
88 Srinagar(H) 29-07-2020
89 Nainital (H) 12-03-2025
90 Bageshwar (H) 12-03-2025
91 Cooch behar 21-02-2023
West Bengal
92 Durgapur(Andal) 25-06-2019
* H – Heliport
W – Water Aerodrome