Question : New Airports

(a) whether the Government is working towards building and developing new airports across the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether a number of new airports have been developed in the country including Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the proposal for declaring Bhopal and Indore airports as International airport is pending with the Government, if so, the reasons for delay of the same;

(d) whether the Government proposes to/ is considering to develop Sagar airport as well and if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of airports in Madhya Pradesh which have been expanded/given international status; and

(f) the funds allocated and utilized for development of airports during the last three years?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) & (b): Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted ''in principle'' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country namely Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Sindhudurg and Shirdi in Maharashtra, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Hassan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Kannur in Kerala, Durgapur in West Bengal, Datia (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kushinagar and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh and Hollongi, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh. From the above airports, Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong and Gulbarga airport projects have already been operationalised and trial landing has been done at Sindhudurg Airport.

(c): The State Government of Madhya Pradesh vide letter dated 05.02.2019 had requested Government of India (Ministry of Civil Aviation) to notify Indore and Bhopal Airports as Customs Airports for operation of full-fledged international flights. Indore airport has been notified as Customs Airport to handle International flight operations. Further, a Joint Team comprising officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Bureau of Immigration (BoI), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Airports Authority of India (AAI), State Govt. and MoCA has also visited Bhopal Airport on 4.11.2019 for assessing the availability of required infrastructure for carrying out immigration functions at Bhopal Airport.;

(d): At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.

(e): AAI has upgraded Bhopal, Indore and Khajuraho airports to international standards with New Integrated Terminal Buildings and other associated work for simultaneous operation of Domestic and International passengers.

(f): AAI has spent Rs. 8855.82 crore during last three years on development work and other associated works at its various airports across the country.