Question : Growth of Aviation Sector

(a) whether there are “capacity constraints” at the existing airports with air traffic growing by over 20 per cent, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to build new airports, adding new terminals and improving the efficiency of existing terminals to meet the growth in aviation sector;

(c) if so, the details of plan prepared therefor;

(d) whether the various State Governments have signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the implementation of the UDAN scheme;
(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government is implementing regional air-connectivity scheme, UDAN to provide connectivity to all major cities of the country, if so, the details thereof and the number of operational airports in the country and the extent to which it would increase by implementing the UDAN scheme;

(g) whether the Government has significantly stepped up investments in airports, if so, the details thereof, airportwise; and

(h) whether disruption in mass transport is on the cards with companies such as Hyperloop proposing new-age rapid-transit options and such proposals might lead to disruptions in regional air-connectivity schemes and if so, the response of the Government thereon?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a): No, Madam. The present infrastructure capacity at Indian airports is sufficient to meet the traffic demand. However, the capacity of some of the airports is nearing saturation. At present 25 operational airports has almost reached saturation or nearing saturation point and the respective airport operators have already taken steps to enhance the capacity to commensurate with the traffic demand.;
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(b) & (c): Government of India (GoI) has granted "in principle" approval for setting up of the 18 Greenfield airports, namely, Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Hasan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Kannur in Kerala, Durgapur in West Bengal, Dabra in Madhya Pradesh, Pakyong in Sikkim, Karaikal in Puducherry, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera in Gujarat and Dagadarthi Mendal, Nellore Dist., Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram District near Visakhapatnam and Oravakallu in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh.
Further, GoI has granted "site clearance" approval for setting up of 7 Greenfield airports, namely, Machiwara, Ludhiana Airport, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, Alwar in Rajasthan, Kothagudem in Telangana, Rajkot in Gujarat and Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. The airport projects at Andal, Durgapur, West Bengal and Kannur in Kerala have been completed. Operations at Durgapur airport have commenced on 18th May, 2015 and the trial landing of Kannur airport has also been completed. ;
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Constructing new Terminal Building or improving the efficiency of existing Terminals is a continuous process and is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) from time to time depending on the traffic demand, operational requirements, availability of land etc.;
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(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. The Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu (UT), Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Manipur, Odisha, Puducherry (UT), Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Nagaland, Andaman, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana & Bihar have singed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the implementation of the UDAN scheme.;;
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(f): The primary objective of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN is to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable. In order to implement the scheme, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a budgetary provision of Rs. 4500 crores for revival of un-served/underserved airports/airstrips in the country. The revival of airstrips/airports is ''''demand driven'''', depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as from the State Government for providing various concessions. ;
Presently, there are 96 operational airports (with and without scheduled flight operations) in the country. AAI, the implementing agency of RCS-UDAN has awarded 128 routes connecting 43 unserved and under-served airports to 5 selected airlines for commencing operations under RCS-UDAN in the 1st round of bidding.;
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(g): Based on traffic growth at the existing airports, AAI has prepared a plan for investment of Rs.17500 Crore for capacity enhancement at various airports in the country by upgradation of infrastructure at operational airports, revival of non-operational airports, strengthening of Air Navigation Services (ANS) infrastructure, installation of solar power plants, etc.
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(h): The Regional Air Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) is planned to connect remote areas to major cities whereas the rapid transport system aims to connect major cities. Hence these are complementary to each other.