Question : DEVELOPMENT OF AIRSTRIPS IN LWE DISTRICTS

(a) whether the Government proposes to provide at least one Airstrip at each district of the country and to develop and maintain airstrips in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) districts;

(b) if so, the name and details of the districts where the said airstrips are proposed to be made available, locationwise including Odisha;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the names of the districts in each State which do not have the airstrips so far; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to persuade airlines to start air services in these locations and to formulate a scheme in this regard?

MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

(a) The Government does not have any proposal at present to construct airports in each district of the country.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) Development of Greenfield airports is covered under the Policy on Greenfield Airports of the Government of India. Under this policy, the Private Developer/ State Government proposing to set up an airport, have to apply for `in-principle` approval, which are considered by the steering committee under Secretary-Civil Aviation on case to case basis, after taking inputs from the concerned authorities.

(d) Government does not keep this data.

(e) Government has laid down a route dispersal guideline with a view to achieve better reguation of air transport service taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country including North-East region. It is however, up to the airlines toprovide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand, commercial viability and availability of aircraft. As such, airlines are free to operate any where in the country subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by the Government.