(a) whether the domestic aviation sector is set to become the third largest aviation market in the world in the next5-7 years and it is witnessing a robustgrowth in air traffic, but there are problems of capacity constraints, increasing congestion and capacity shortages in terms of runway slots, terminals etc.;

(b) if so, the details thereof and measures undertaken to resolve the structural problems in airport planning;

(c) the steps undertaken to develop under-served and un-served airstrips as low-cost airports through regional connectivity/UDAN scheme;

(d) whether more Public-Private partnerships have been considered to develop and modernize airports across the country, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether a panel has been constituted to explore ways to hive off Air Navigation Services into a separate entity and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government has significantly stepped up investments in airports and if so, the details thereof, airport-wise; and

(g) whether the Government has also identified locations for building new airports, new terminals as well as improving the efficiency of existing terminals and if so, the details thereof and the targets achieved by the Government to develop airport infrastructure during the last three years and the current year, year/ Airport-wise?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) and (b): The present infrastructure capacity of airport is generally sufficient for handling existing air traffic. However, keeping in view of rapid growth of domestic airlines, expansion of infrastructure at airports including runway, terminal building and air space harmonization has been undertaken. In addition new airports at Navi Mumbai, MOPA in Goa, Dholera in Gujarat and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh have been sanctioned ;

(c): It is planned to revive 50 airstrips/airports over a period of three years starting from 2017-18 at a total estimated cost of Rs. 4500 crores. However, the development of airports/airstrips to be undertaken only in those States where the State Government agrees to provide the requisite concessions and a firm commitment from airlines to fly from/to such airports.;

(d): Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted ''in principle'' approval for setting up of Greenfield Airports at MOPA in Goa, Navi Mumbai and Sindudurg in Maharastra, Hassan in Karnataka, Kannur in Kerala, Dholera in Gujarat and Dagadarthi and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh in Public-Private Partnership. In Addition Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun the PPP bidding process for O&M contracts for Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports. ;

(e): This Ministry had set up a two member Committee consisting of Shri Ashok Chawla, Ex-Chairman, Competition Commission of India and Shri Satendra Singh, Ex-DGCA to examine afresh the issue related to creation of separate Air Navigation Services entity by hiving off Air Navigation Services (ANS) from Airports Authority of India (AAI). The committee has suggested bifurcation of ANS from AAI in a gradual manner.;

(f) and (g): Government of India has granted "in principle" approval for setting up of the 18 Greenfield airports in the country. The list of these airport along with the estimated cost is as under: MOPA in Goa (approx. Rs. 3100 cr), Navi Mumbai (approx. Rs. 16704 cr), Shirdi (approx. Rs. 320.54cr) and Sindhudurg (approx. Rs. 520cr) in Maharashtra, Bijapur (approx. Rs. 150cr), Gulbarga (approx. Rs. 13.78 cr in initial phase), Hassan (approx. Rs. 592 cr) and Shimoga (approx. Rs. 38.91 cr) in Karnataka, Kannur in Kerala (approx. Rs. 1892 cr), Durgapur in West Bengal (approx. Rs. 670 cr), Dabra in Madhya Pradesh (approx. Rs. 200 cr), Pakyong in Sikkim (approx. Rs. 553.53 cr), Karaikal in Pudducherry (approx. Rs.170 cr), Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh (approx. Rs. 448 cr), Dholera in Gujarat (approx. Rs. 1712 cr) and Dagadarthi Mendal, Nellore Dist. (approx. Rs. 293 cr), Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram District near Visakhapatnam (approx. Rs. 2260 cr) and Oravakallu in Kurnool District (approx. Rs. 200 cr), Andhra Pradesh.