Question : DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PROVIDING FACILITIES

(a) the Action Plan of the Government for the development of Civil Aviation infrastructure for providing all facilities to the air passenger to each of the States especially to North East and Sikkim;

(b) whether the private companies have been invited and negotiated for air traffic management to link up air travel from State to State under any arrangement and control;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether small airports are under the consideration of the Government: and

(e) if so, the details of projects covered by the present Action Plan?

THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI SHARAD YADAV)

(a) :- Development and upgradation of infrastructure facilities to the air passengers at all the airports is a ongoing process depending upon the traffic and economic viability. In the current annual plan, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up major upgradation of infrastructural facilities at an estimated cost of Rs.432.58 crores for the airports in all the States in the country and Rs. 64.33 crores for the airports in the North East. AAI has no airport in Sikkim. Sikkim is connected through civil enclave at Bagdogra airport.


(b) & (c) :- Air operators are free to operate on any route/ connect any place in their commercial judgement subject to compliance with the route dispersal guidelines which stipulates certain minimum operation on specified category of routes.


(d) & (e) :- A new airport is under construction at Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir State at an estimated cost of Rs. 33 crores.