(a) whether the Government proposes to set up airports in the small cities across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any proposal has been received for the setting up of airports in Sikar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which the construction of the said airports is likely to be started?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))
(a) & (b): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) in October, 2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. The Government of India has approved a budget of Rs. 4500 crore for revival of existing unserved / underserved airports / airstrips of the State Governments, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Public Sector Undertakings and Civil Enclaves. AAI, the Implementing Agency has identified 154 RCS airports including 14 water aerodromes and 36 helipads so far under UDAN for operation of RCS flights therefrom. As on 17.03.2022, 409 RCS routes connecting 66 airports including 2 water aerodromes & 8 Helipads have been operationalized. ;
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Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for setting up new Greenfield airports in the country. As per the policy, if any developer including the State Government desires to develop an airport, they are required to identify a suitable site and get the Pre-feasibility Study conducted for construction of airport and submit a proposal to the Central Government for ''Site-Clearance'' followed by ''In-Principle'' approval. As of now, GoI has accorded ''In-Principle'' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. Out of these, 08 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg and Kushinagar have been operationalized.;
(c) to (e): GoI has not received any proposal under Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008 from State Government of Rajasthan or any Airport Developer for construction of a Greenfield Airport at Sikar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan. The existing Bharatpur airstrip is listed in the UDAN document. However, no airline has so far submitted any bid to operate RCS flight from Bharatpur.
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