Question : Development of Kozhikode Airport

(a) whether the Government has any plan to further develop Kozhikode Airport in light of the recent Air India Express plane crash and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Air India has denied permission to some of the victims required to undergo major medical procedures from specialised hospitals other than the empanelled hospitals by Air India;

(c) if so, the details of method being adopted to reimburse the expenditure on unavoidable medical procedures from others than Air India empanelled hospitals;

(d) whether the victims are still not paid the compensation announced by the Government; and

(e) the steps taken so far for settlement of insurance to the victims by Air India?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a): All safety measures at Kozhikode Airport and other table top runways are taken in compliance to regulatory requirements for safe aircraft operations.
;
(b) and (c): No Sir, all the victims were provided treatment as required at the cost of Air India Express. All the medical expenses of all the injured passengers were borne by Air India Express.;
;
(d) & (e): Air India / Air India Express does not pay insurance to the passengers but compensation is paid as per The Carriage by Air Act. The Air India Express has disbursed an interim compensation as under:;
;
Category No. of passenger Amount in Rupees;

(i) Deceased 18 1.6 cr.
(ii) Grievously injured 92 1.84 cr. ;
(iii) Minor Injured 73 36.50 lakhs