(a) whether the Government is aware that there is an uneven distribution in the flow of traffic resulting in pressure on infrastructure at certain airports and a massive under-utilization of the existing infrastructure in others; and
(b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for the proper utilization of infrastructure at airports, especially the International Airport at Thiruvananthapuram?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a) & (b) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement in reply to parts (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred () Question No. 35 for 24th November, 2005 regarding Utilization of Infrastructure at airports.
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b)Due to congestion at Metro Airports, Airports Authority of India (AAI) is providing incentives to airlines to operate and park their aircraft at other than notified international airports. Some of these incentives are as under:-
i)Landing charges reduced by 15% of current rates for domestic flights if payment made within 15 days of credit period.
ii)No landing charges for aircraft with maximum capacity of less than 80 seats and helicopters.
iii)Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) are levied at reduced rate of 20% and 40% of applicable rate for smaller aircrafts.
iv)Terminal Navigation Landing Charges (TNLC) at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Trivandrum reduced by 25% of current rates for domestic flights.
v)Landing and parking charges at all airports in North-Eastern Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Island and Lakshadweep reduced by 25% of current rates.
Besides, AAI has already initiated action to provide additional parking stands, expansion / upgradation of terminal buildings, runways, taxiways at many airports. To provide the requisite infrastructure facilities at Trivandrum airport, a total of 120 acres of land has to be made available to AAI by Government of Kerala. Out of this area, 27.57 acres have already been handed over to AAI. AAI has development plans to construct new international terminal complex with associated facilities.