Question : Construction of Airports

(a): whether the Government has accorded its approval for setting up new airports including 26 Greenfield airports along with expansion of some of the airports, if so, the details thereof;

(b): the details of funds allocated and spent for this purpose in the country during the last three years and current year, State/ UT-wise and year-wise and the funds earmarked for next financial year;

(c): whether the Government has granted its approval to begin operations at Jewar airport in Uttar Pradesh in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(d): whether the Government has decided to start the construction of said airport from next year onwards and which is likely to be larger than Indira Gandhi International airport and if so, the details thereof;

(e): whether proposals regarding construction of several airports in Bihar including in Darbangha, Patna and Sabarimal in Kerala are pending with the Government, if so, the details thereof; and

(f): the details of viability of using Sarsawa Air Force Base to also cater to operation of civilian aircraft to help connectivity to Saharanpur District?

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

(a) & (b): Government of India (GoI), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted ''in principle'' approval for setting up of 19 Greenfield Airports across the country 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 Pudducherry, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera in Gujarat, Dagadarthi Mendal, Nellore Dist., Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram District near Visakhapatnam and Oravakallu in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh and Hirasar, District Rajkot, Gujarat. Expansion of airports is a continuous process which is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) from time to time depending upon traffic demand, availability of land and resources, grant of environmental clearance, NOC from various regulatory authorities etc. The details of funds airport wise is at Annexure I.;

(c) & (d): GoI, MoCA has granted ''site clearance'' approval to Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) for setting up of Noida International Greenfield Airport near Jewar, Uttar Pradesh on 6th July, 2017. However, any new Greenfield Airport requires two stage clearances i.e. ''Site Clearance'' and ''in-principle'' approval. In case of proposed airport at Jewar, the site clearance has been granted and further development would depend on preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR), its economic viability and financial closure subject to the ''in-principle'' approval. ;

(e): No such proposal as per Greenfield airport policy are pending for setting up of Greenfield airports at these cities.;

(f): As per RCS-UDAN, in case of an airline operator willing to operate RCS flight from a defence airport, approval from the Ministry of Defence will need to be obtained for permitting joint use/civil operations, under the scheme.