(a) whether the Government are contemplating to upgrade all small, medium and major airports in the country as per the international- standards;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the amount likely to be spent by the Government thereon;
(d) the airports selected for upgradation during the year 2003-2004 including in the State of Bihar and Orissa; and
(e) the number of airports where modernisation work is under way at present alongwith the expenditure already incurred thereon?
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI SYED SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN )
(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) :- A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement in reply to the parts (a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.268 for answer on 10.03.2003 regarding Upgradation of Airports.
a), (b), (c), (d) & (e):- Upgradation and Modernisation of all airports in the country is a continuous process and is taken up depending upon traffic potential, operational requirements, availability of funds, economic viability, availability of land, social considerations etc. As per revised estimates for the year 2002-2003, amounts likely to be spent on development / upgradation works at major airports is approximately Rs.717 crore. In the State of Bihar, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already renovated and expanded Patna airport at an estimated cost of Rs.5 crore, and Gaya Airport at an estimated cost of Rs.25 crore. Construction of new Terminal Building, Technical Block, Fire Station, Strengthening of runway for A-300 type of aircraft, has been taken up at Gaya Airport at an estimated cost of Rs.62 crore. In the State of Orissa, AAI has completed runway extension work, except the portion through which State Government`s road passes across at Bhubaneswar Airport. State Government has been approached to divert the road at priority. Development works at Bhubaneswar has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs.30 crore. AAI has also plan for construction of Civil Enclave at Purnea Air Force Station. The Airports at Gaya and Patna in Bihar and Bhubaneswar in Orissa are planned for further upgradation during the year 2003-2004. There is also a plan to set up a perishable cargo complex at Patna airport in joint venture with Bihar State Export Corporation Limited at a cost of Rs.3.11 crores.