(a) whether the Government has undertaken any survey to provide multiple airports for big cities;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the air traffic projections for the ensuing decade and the steps being contemplated to meet the demand?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a), (b) & (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b) & (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED () QUESTION NO. 211 FOR 13th MARCH, 2008 REGARDING “MULTIPLE AIRPORTS FOR BIG CITIESâ€
(a): No Sir.
(b): Does not arise.
(c)The traffic forecast suggests that between the years 2006-07 to 2016-17, aircraft movements would go up from 1075640 to 4557810, passenger traffic from 963.70 to 5823.83 lakhs and cargo from 1549.24 to 3972.66 MT.
Measures have been initiated to deal with the anticipated expansion of air traffic in the country by augmenting infrastructure at all the existing airports. Inter alia, this includes increasing the capacity of terminal buildings, constructing more parking stands for aircrafts, providing of longer runways, construction of additional runways wherever feasible etc.
In addition, the airports at Delhi and Mumbai have been restructured and are being developed and modernized through Public Private Partnerships (PPP). A greenfield airport at Cochin under PPP is already under operation. Modern greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore are getting operational very shortly. In principle approvals have been given for new greenfield airports at Mopa (Goa), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Kannur (Kerala). Several State Governments have plans to promote many airport projects in their respective States.
Special attention is being paid to development of new greenfield airports and upgradation of existing airports in the North - Eastern States with substantial financial assistance from the Central Government.