Question : LEH AIRPORT

(a) whether the terminal building at Leh airport is insufficient to handle the heavy rush of passengers that surfaces during tourist seasons;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Airports Authority of India has any dispute with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in regard to construction of new airport building;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government for expeditious completion of new terminal building at Leh alongwith the expected time by which it is likely to be made operational?

MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI AJIT SINGH)

(a)&(b): The existing Terminal Building at Leh Airport is sufficient to handle 125 arriving and 125 departing passengers at a given time. However, considering the traffic growth Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned to construct a new Terminal Building for 250 arriving and 250 departing passengers along with a new apron for parking 04 Nos. of cagegory `C` type of aircraft.

(c)&(d): Indian Air Force (IAF) has granted working permission on 5.01 acres of land. However, NOC/working permission for utilizing 3.4 acre of additional land for construction of new terminal building and apron is still awaited from IAF.

(e): The matter is being regularly pursued with the defence authorities at the Head Quarter level. The operationalisation of the new terminal building is subject to NOC/working permission from IAF.