Question : Naming of Airports

(a) whether the Government proposes to name the Jharsuguda airport in the name of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has proposals for naming the international airports of various States if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has also instructed the State Governments to send proposals for naming of international airports including the State of Haryana for naming Chandigarh airport as Bhagat Singh International Airport;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Union Government has received any representation from Government of Tamil Nadu or any NGO or organisation to change the name of any existing airport in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government on this representation; and

(f) whether the Ministry has received a proposal from Government of Maharashtra for the extension of name of "Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport" in Mumbai to "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport" and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a): No, Madam. There is no such proposal.;

(b): Ministry of Civil Aviation has formulated draft Policy Guidelines on naming/renaming of airports which inter-alia propose to keep the name of airport after the name of the main city it serves.;

(c) & (d): Generally, request for renaming of airports are sent by the concerned State Governments for the consideration of Government of India. As far as matter of naming of Chandigarh Airport is concerned, Government of Punjab has requested this Ministry to name Civil Air terminal Complex at Chandigarh Airport as "Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali" while Government of Haryana has requested to name the terminal as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh". Since both the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana are unanimous in the opinion that the terminal be named after "Shaheed Bhagat Singh" and ''Chandigarh'' is the common Capital of both the States & the airport also bears the name of ''Chandigarh'', this Ministry requested both the State Governments to agree to name the airport as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport, Chandigarh" and also send a resolution of their respective Legislative Assemblies supporting above proposal.;
;

(e): Representations for changing name of Airports in Tamil Nadu have been received by the Government from time to time. However, as a general practice, requests for naming/renaming of airports are considered based on the recommendations of the State Government concerned, supported by a resolution passed in the respective State Legislative Assembly. ;

(f): Yes, Madam. The State Government of Maharashtra has forwarded a proposal for addition of the word "Maharaj" in the existing name of "Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai" on 27.12.2016 along with a resolution passed unanimously in the Legislative Assembly as well as Legislative Council of the State.