(a) whether there has been a long pending demand from the people of Assam for re-opening of Rupsi Airport near Dhubri in Assam;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any decision in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the said airport is likely to be re-opened?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr. Mahesh Sharma)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam.There are demands from the State Government, Bodo Territorial Council, All Assam Bodo People`s Confederations, National Democratic Front, All India United Democratic Front,etc. to revive Rupsi Airport in Assam.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. A decision to hand over the Rupsi airport to the Ministry of Defence has been taken in the Ministry of Civil Aviation for operationalisation and joint use by Indian Air force (IAF) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Government of Assam has demarcated the boundary of the airport land and found that 517.27 acres of the airport land was notified as forest land. The State Government has taken up the issue with the forest department for de-notification of the land. No concrete time frame for revival of the airport is envisaged at this stage.