(a) whether according to International Air Transport Association, country`s enormous anticipated expansion of airport projects could be cut short by insufficient airport and air traffic management capacity as reported in the `Economic Times` dated October, 29, 2007;
(b) if so, the details and the facts thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a), (b) & (c) The unprecedented growth in air traffic in the recent past has raised several challenges for the airport infrastructure in the country. However, Government have taken several initiatives to deal with the situation, such as :
(i) Restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports through Joint Venture Route
(ii) Construction of new Greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore
(iii) Upgradation / expansion of Chennai and Kolkata airports
(iv) Modernisation of 35 select non-metro airports
(v) Operationalisation of a few disused airports
(vi) New airports in North-Eastern region
(vii) Development of a Cargo Hub at Nagpur. Most of these projects are expected to be implemented in next 3 years.
Further, the Air Traffic Management System is adequately meeting the requirement. However, the upgradation of ATC System / facilities at Mumbai and Delhi has already been taken up. Similarly for other airports also new systems are being implemented which will meet with future growth of traffic. The upgradation of ATC system is a continuous process which will match with future growth of traffic.