Question : Development of Airstrips

(a) whether the expansion of airstrip at Devangana Valley in Chitrakoot Dham, Uttar Pradesh has started;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated for the purpose and the time-frame fixed in this regard;

(c) the agency which has been awarded the expansion work of the said airstrip along with the procedure followed for its selection;

(d) whether the Government has received any proposal to develop the airstrips at Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Jagdalpur and Korba in Chhattisgarh as airports; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a) to (c): Chitrakoot Airstrip at Devangana Valley belongs to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh. Further development of the airstrip comes under the purview of State Govt.

(d) & (e): Requests have been received for development of Ambikapur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur airstrips from the State Government of
Chattisgarh. Ambikapur, Jagdalpur and Korba airstrips belongs to the State Government and Airports Authority of India (AAI) does not intend to develop these airstrips due to unviability of operations. Bilaspur airstrip belongs to AAI and Ministry of Defence (MoD) has desired for transfer of the Bilaspur airstrip to Army for joint user development, which is subject to signing of MoU between Indian Army (MoD) and AAI (Ministry of Civil Aviation).

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