Parliament Question: Setting up of New Airports

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4773 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 ) SETTING UP OF NEW AIRPORTS

4773. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of new airports approved to strengthen air connectivity in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand since they attained Statehood, year-wise;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to address the challenges arising from the lack of adequate air connectivity in mineral-rich States such as Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, where major industrial groups are operational, in order to facilitate industrial development; and

(c) whether the Government proposes to build new airports in future and if so, the details thereof? 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.;

No proposal either from State Government concerned or any Airport Developer seeking 'Site Clearance' is under consideration for development of Greenfield Airports in the State of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.;

;

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.

;

Under RCS-UDAN , 6 (six) airports namely, Bokaro, Dumka, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Deoghar and Daltonganj in the state of Jharkhand were identified for development and operation of RCS flights therefrom. Out of these, RCS flights from Deoghar & Jamshedpur airports have commenced.;;

Further, under RCS-UDAN, 3 (Three) airports namely, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur & Ambikapur in the state of Chhattisgarh and 2 (two) airports namely, Pantnagar and Pithoragarh in the state of Uttarakhand were identified for development and operation of RCS flights therefrom. RCS flight operations have commenced from all these airports.;;

;

11 Heliports have also been operationalized under RCS-UDAN in Uttarakhand. ; ******