New Delhi: In the newly approved National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has made provision for promotion of regional connectivity by way of revival of un-served and under-served airports and airstrips. Revival of such airports is to be “demand driven”, depending on firm demand from the airline operators and where the state government agrees to provide various concessions envisaged in the Policy. State Governments can explore possibilities of developing these airports through Public Private Partnership (PPP) also.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation formulated the Greenfield Airport Policy to develop airports across the country. State Government or any other entity can submit application for setting up of a Greenfield airport. A Steering Committee is constituted to examine & recommend the proposal before grant of requisite approvals viz. ‘site clearance’ and ‘in-principle approval’ .
The Government has granted ‘in principle’ approval to private companies namely Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), Gwalior Agriculture Company Limited (GAPL) and Karaikal Airport Private Limited (KAPL) for setting up of Greenfield Airports in West Bengal ( Rs.670 crores approx.), Madhya Pradesh (Rs. 200 crores approx. ) and Puducherry (Rs. 170 crores approx ) respectively.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Jayant Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
