Question : Setting up of Airports under RCS

(a) whether the Government proposes to set up twenty airports, heliports and water aerodromes in the country under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) by the year 2024-2025;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Maharashtra and Rajasthan;
(c) the names of airports selected in this regard and the current status thereof along with the time by which the said airports are likely to be set up;
(d) whether the Government proposes to start flight services from Phaltan airport and Manpur airstrip, Abu road under the said scheme; and
(e) if so, the time by which flight services are likely to be started from the said airport/airstrip?

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 75 , REGARDING "SETTING UP OF AIRSTRIPS UNDER RCS" TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2022. (a) to (c): Yes Sir. 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. 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. The list of the 20 Airports/Heliports/Water Aerodromes being developed under this scheme during 2022-23 is at Annexure. ; Under the UDAN scheme, the unserved & underserved airports/airstrips identified/awarded in the State of Maharashtra to operate RCS flights are Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Sholapur, Ozar (Nasik), Nanded, Amravati, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Gondia. RCS flights operation from the six airports namely Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Ozar (Nasik), Nanded, Gondia & Sindhudurg airports have already commenced under UDAN. Development/Upgradation of Airports at Ratnagiri and Solapur depends upon the fulfillment of land availability, removal of obstacles, regulatory compliances, etc. Amravati Airport is being developed by the State Government. Similarly, the unserved & underserved airports/airstrips identified/awarded in the State of Rajasthan to operate RCS flights are Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, Uterlai and Kota. RCS flight operations from Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Kishangarh airports have already commenced under UDAN. Development/upgradation of airports at Uterlai and Kota depends on the fulfillment of land availability, removal of obstacles, regulatory compliance, etc. ; d) & e): Phaltan Airstrip in Maharashtra and Manpur, Abu Road airstrip in Rajasthan are available in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN scheme Document for bidding. However, none of the airlines has submitted any proposal to operate RCS flight from these airports, so far. In case, any airline submits valid bid connecting these Airstrip, the same shall be considered as per the provisions of the UDAN Scheme.