(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) The Ministry of Civil Aviation has drawn up a plan to boost air connectivity by taking the total number of operational airports in the country to over 200 in the next five-six years, as part of its vision to increase the 'breadth and depth of air access'.
Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said here on Saturday (Feb 4) , who is here on a brief visit, said that in 67 years of independence, the country has seen only 74 new airports being built, while in the last 8.5 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule, it has been increased to 147.
“We are just one short of doubling that number. The 148th airport will also be completed this month, which means it took India 66-67 years and has been done under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a period of Nine years.” he told reporters. Scindia said the ministry envisages to increase the number of operational airports in the country to over 200 in the next five to six years.
“Another 50 additional airports, waterdromes and heliports have been approved in the budget (presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman). Under the UDAN scheme, we were building 100 airports and now we are looking to build 150 airports, waterdromes and heliports in the next few years. Heliport will be made. to come,” he said.
Emphasizing that air connectivity in the country cannot be focused only on expansion of international routes, he said that air connectivity should be expanded to Tier-II and Tier III cities.“Under Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme we have started small aircraft scheme last year which will be only sub-20 seater aircraft. These are not all ATR, not Boeing or Airbus big aircraft. These are sub-20 seater aircraft. There are aircraft. So that the penetration is up to the ground level,” he said.
Scindia said such aircraft are currently being operated in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, northeastern states and advanced landing grounds on the border of Arunachal Pradesh have been activated so that there is 100 per cent penetration.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'mantra' is that air penetration should be in every nook and corner of the country,” he said. Asked about the greenfield airport at Parandur near Chennai, he said the ministry is in discussion with TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited) and examining the project proposal. It will issue 'Site' and 'In-Principle' approval through the Airports Authority of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Responding to a question about the protest, he said,“DGCA, AAI have to look into the new airport proposal whether there is any obstruction on the flight path from safety and security point of view. Your question to be directed to the state government.” Needed.” Villagers protesting against the project staged a demonstration in Parandur.
In August 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that a second airport for the city would come up at Parandur near Sriperumbudur with an annual capacity of 100 million passengers at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
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