**Executive Summary**
This document is the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 72, answered on December 4th, 2025, regarding the strengthening of civil aviation infrastructure. It details key initiatives undertaken by the government to accelerate civil aviation growth, especially in the eastern region and tourist areas in Rajasthan, since August 2025. The statement includes information on airport development, regional connectivity, and the UDAN scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Initiatives:**
* The modernization and development of airport infrastructure is an ongoing process based on passenger demand, operational needs, safety requirements, and airline needs.
* The Ministry of Civil Aviation is organizing Regional Civil Aviation Ministers' Conferences to engage with States and industry on airport development, UDAN connectivity, skill development, and ecosystem growth.
* The Eastern Region Conference was held in Bhubaneswar on August 25th, 2025, for Odisha, Jharkhand, and other Eastern States to discuss aviation expansion.
* Similar engagements support tourism-rich regions like Rajasthan.
* **UDAN Scheme & Airport Development:**
* Purnea Airport in Bihar was developed and inaugurated on September 15th, 2025, now connected to Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.
* AAI allotted land for MRO facilities to the State Government at Bhubaneswar Airport and Ever deliver Logistics Pvt. Ltd. at Kolkata Airport in 2025.
* DGCA approved a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Dumka, Jharkhand in August 2025.
* The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the development of a Greenfield Airport at Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan, on August 19th, 2025, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1507 crore.
* The Modified UDAN Scheme aims to expand regional connectivity to 120 new destinations nationwide, including the Eastern Region, targeting 4 crore passengers over the next 10 years.
* **Airstrips Status:**
* Gudari (Phulbani) Airstrip in Odisha and Manpur (Abu Road) Airstrip in Rajasthan are listed as unserved airports under UDAN.
* No airline has submitted bids to operate RCS flights from these airstrips in previous bidding rounds.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar)**
* **Impact:** States benefit from enhanced airport infrastructure, UDAN connectivity, and economic growth due to increased tourism and industry.
* **Action Required:** Participate in Regional Civil Aviation Ministers' Conferences, collaborate with the Ministry of Civil Aviation on airport development and UDAN scheme implementation, and encourage airline participation in UDAN bidding for unserved airstrips.
**Stakeholder: Airlines**
* **Impact:** Opportunities to expand operations to new destinations and participate in the UDAN scheme.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate opportunities to operate RCS flights from unserved airstrips such as Gudari and Manpur.
**Stakeholder: Local Communities (Eastern Region & Rajasthan)**
* **Impact:** Improved connectivity, accessibility, tourism, and industry, leading to economic growth, employment generation, and enhanced access to healthcare.
* **Action Required:** Utilize improved air connectivity for business, leisure, and healthcare needs.
**Stakeholder: Civil Aviation Industry Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for growth and expansion in airport development, skill development, and ecosystem growth.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and State Governments to explore collaborative opportunities in airport development, UDAN connectivity, skill development, and ecosystem growth.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN: Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik scheme, a regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the policies and programs relating to civil aviation.
Odisha: A state in the eastern region of India, focus of aviation growth initiatives.
Rajasthan: A state in India known for tourism; focus of aviation growth initiatives.
Jharkhand: A state in the eastern region of India, focus of aviation growth initiatives.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 72
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
STRENGTHENING OF CIVIL AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE
*72. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI
SMT D K ARUNA
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the key initiatives undertaken by the Government to strengthen Centre State-
Industry collaboration for accelerating civil aviation growth, particularly in the areas
of airport infrastructure, regional connectivity, skill development and ecosystem
expansion in the eastern region, particularly in Odisha, Jharkhand and also areas
having tourist places in Rajasthan, since
August, 2025;
(b) the details and number of airports, new routes under the Ude Desh kaAam
Naagrik (UDAN) scheme and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
(MRO) facilities that have become operational in the eastern region, Jharkhand and
areas having tourist places in Rajasthan during the said period;
(c) the likely short and medium term impact and contribution of the seinitiatives
on economic growth, connectivity and employment generation; (d) the specific
timeframe, targets and milestones set by the Government for expanding aviation
access to tier-two and tier-three cities in the said areas/places; and
(e) the status of proposals relating to establishing smaller airfields including Gudari
airstrip under the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency and Manpur airstrip, Abu
Road in Rajasthan?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
( Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT
OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 72 FOR REPLY
ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING STRENGTHENING OF CIVIL AVIATION
INFRASTRUCTURE ASKED BY SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI AND
SMT. D K ARUNA.
(a) to (e): The modernization and development of airport infrastructure is a
continuous process undertaken based on passenger demand forecasts, operational
and safety requirements, and airline needs.
To strengthen regional aviation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been organizing
Regional Civil Aviation Ministers' Conferences for structured engagement with
States and industry stakeholders on airport development, UDAN connectivity, skill
development, and ecosystem growth. The Eastern Region Conference held on 25th
August 2025 at Bhubaneswar provided a platform for Odisha, Jharkhand and other
Eastern States to discuss opportunities for aviation expansion. Similar engagements
also support tourism-rich regions such as Rajasthan through focused coordination
and faster decision-making.
Under UDAN, Purnea Airport in Bihar was developed and inaugurated on 15th
September 2025, and is now connected to Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad and
Hyderabad.
In 2025, AAI allotted land for MRO facilities to the State Government at
Bhubaneswar Airport and to Ever deliver Logistics Pvt. Ltd. at Kolkata Airport.
DGCA also approved one Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Dumka, Jharkhand
in August 2025.
On 19.08.2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the
development of a Greenfield Airport at Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan at an estimated cost
of Rs. 1507 crore.
UDAN has strengthened the Eastern Region by improving connectivity and
accessibility, boosting tourism and industry, enhancing access to healthcare, and
generating direct and indirect employment. The Government has further announced
the Modified UDAN Scheme to expand regional connectivity to 120 new
destinations nationwide, including the Eastern Region, targeting 4 crore passengers
over the next 10 years.
Gudari (Phulbani) Airstrip in Odisha and Manpur (Abu Road) Airstrip in Rajasthan
are listed as unserved airports under UDAN. However, no airline has submitted bids
to operate RCS flights from these airstrips in the previous rounds of bidding.
*****