Question : Revival-Development of Small Airports

(a) whether the Government proposes to erect pre-fabricated structures at small and low cost airports for fulfilling ambitious plan of the Government to aerially link small towns with each other and metros until a small town airport has grown up in terms of air traffic, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of dormant, un-served and under-served airports in the country, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to revive/upgrade some of the dormant, unserved and under-served airports in the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Karnataka and Rajasthan and North-Eastern Region;

(d) the details of funds allocated, released and spent by the Government for the development of small airports;

(e) whether the Government proposes to develop airstrips/helipads in hilly/remote areas of Uttarakhand also to make air travel option available to tourists/commuters for meeting emergency transportation needs of critical patients and for swift action during natural disasters, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the Government has issued any guidelines for airlines to fly on air routes to North-eastern Region, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep etc ten percent of their total capacity they deploy on metro routes, if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the various measures taken by the Government to improve regional air connectivity in the country especially in North-eastern Region and remote areas?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a). No Madam;

(b): There are approximately 16 under served and 394 unserved airports/airstrips in the country ;

(c) & (d): Yes Madam. National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) provides for promoting Regional Connectivity by way of revival of un-served and under-served airports/airstrips of State Government and Airports Authority of India (AAI). However, selection of cities under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to be ''demand driven'', depending on firm demand from the airline operators and where the State Government agrees to provide various concessions envisaged in the Policy.;

(e): The NCAP envisages the Government to facilitate the development of at least four heli-hubs initially, across the country to promote regional connectivity. Ministry of Civil Aviation to coordinate with MoF, MHA, NHAI, Indian Railways, insurance companies, hospitals, Pawan Hans Limited and other helicopter operators to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). Airport charges for helicopter operations tobe suitably rationalized.Further under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), operations through helicopters would be permitted among the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand, North Eastern Region of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands.

(f) : Government has laid down route dispersal guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. The guidelines specifies that all scheduled operators are required to deploy in the North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand (Category-II routes) at least 10% of their deployed capacity on trunk routes (Category I routes). Further, at least 10% of the capacity thus required to be deployed on Category-II routes, is required to be deployed for connectivity exclusively within these regions. 50% of the capacity deployed on Category-I routes is to be deployed on routes other than Category-I and Category-II routes i.e. Category-III routes. ;

(g): Airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of RDG issued by Government. However, it is up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability.