New Delhi: Sixteen airports constructed under the central government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) are lying unused, of the 74 operationalised under the scheme.
The highest number of such unused airports is in Gujarat and Punjab, four each, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh stated in a written reply to the Lok Sabha Thursday.
“Operationalisation of an airport depends upon air passenger demand forecast, demand from airlines, financial and operational viability, as well as other facilities with reference to intended aircraft operations,” he said.
Singh added that airlines plan their flight schedule on a specific route/city based on market demand, commercial feasibility and their company policy, over which the aviation ministry has no jurisdiction.
He was replying to a query on the number of airports functional and the number lying unused under RCS-UDAN.
According to the data shared in Parliament, 74 airports, including 19 underserved and 55 unserved, are currently operational under the scheme.
Of the unused airports, four are in Gujarat (Porbandar, Mundra, Sabarmati River Front (W) and Statue of Unity (W)); four in Punjab (Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda and Pathankot); three in Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Nanded and Gondia); two in Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh and Almora (H)); and one each in Haryana (Hissar), Tamil Nadu (Salem) and Uttar Pradesh (Hindon).
Replying to a question on operations by private airlines from the airports, Singh said the request of airlines for operating flight services from airports is accommodated within the available watch hours and airport capacity.
21/07/2023 Yuthika Bhargava/Print
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
0 comments:
Post a Comment