(a) whether the Government proposes to consider the demands to develop Birpur airstrip in Supaul District of Bihar and the airstrip in Purulia District of West Bengal which are lying unused for a long period of time; and
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to develop these airstrips?
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)
(a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 74, REGARDING "DEVELOPMENT OF AIRSTRIPS" TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2022.;; ; (a) &(b): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21-10-2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. Birpur Airstrip situated in Supaul District is owned by State Government of Bihar and figures in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN Scheme Document for bidding. However, none of the airlines have submitted any proposal to operate RCS flight from Birpur, so far. An airport /airstrip /helipad /heliport /water aerodrome which is included in the awarded routes of RCS - UDAN and requires upgradation/development for commencement of RCS operations, is developed under "Revival of unserved and underserved airports" scheme. In case, any airline submits valid bid connecting to Birpur Airstrip, the same will be developed as per the provisions of the UDAN Scheme. Chhara airfield situated in Puralia District of the State of West Bengal, India, is not available in the list of unserved airports in the UDAN Document for bidding. Whenever State Government of West Bengal requests for its inclusion under UDAN, the same will be considered as per the RCS Provision of UDAN Scheme.