Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Upgradation and modernisation of civil aviation infrastructure is an ongoing process and is undertaken by airport operators concerned from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand/willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports. AAI has taken up development of new airports and expansion/ upgradation of existing airports at an estimated cost of around Rs 25,000 crore in next 4-5 years which includes expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, expansion or strengthening of existing runways, aprons, Airport Navigation Services control towers, technical blocks etc.
In addition, three Public Private Partnership (PPP) airports at Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have undertaken major expansion plan to the tune of Rs 30,000 Crores by 2025. These projects are at various stages of planning/development.
The Government of India ( GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008, which provides Guidelines for establishment of new Greenfield Airports in the country. As per Policy, an Airport Developer, including the State Governments, willing to establish an Airport is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA).
There is a 2-stage process for approval of the proposal i.e. ‘Site-Clearance’ stage and ‘In-Principle’ approval stage. In accordance with this policy, MoCA receives proposals from the State Governments or Airport developers from time to time for establishment of airports. MoCA has so faraccorded ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country namely Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Bijapur, Hassan, and Shimoga in Karnataka, Datia (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala, and Hollongi (Itanagar) in Arunachal Pradesh of which eight airports namely Durgapur, Shirdi, Sindhudurg, Pakyong, Kannur, Kalaburagi, Oravakal, and Kushinagar have been operationalised, according to a PIB release.
Under UDAN scheme, so far 154 RCS airports including 14 water aerodromes and 36 helipads have been identified for development/upgradation. This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Gen. (Dr) V K Singh (Retd) in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on December 13, 2021.