Question : SETTING UP OF NEW AIRPORTS

(a) the details of proposals received by the Union Government for setting up of new airports in the country during the last three years:

(b) whether the Government have conducted any survey through its own sources regarding the requirement of the airports in the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Airports Authority of India had surveyed and selected the land for setting up an airport in Ajmer, Rajasthan;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the action had been initiated for the acquisition of land for the purpose and the Union Government had also expressed its desire to set up the airport in Ajmer in principle; and
(g) the reasons for changing stand in this matter?

THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI SHARAD YADAV)

(a) :- Government has received proposals for construction of new airports at Devanhalli near Bangalore, Mopa near Goa, Shamshabad near Hyderabad, Kannur in Kerala and Ajmer in Rajasthan.

(b) :- No, Sir.

(c) :- Does not arise.

(d), (e), (f) & (g) :- Yes, Sir. The Airports Authority of India has conducted a survey which indicated that the project was not viable on financial parameters. Moreover, Ajmer is only 136 Kms away from an existing airport at Jaipur and under the existing policy, normally, no greenfield airport is to be developed within an aerial distance of 150 Km of an existing airport.