GoI grants approval for setting up of 15 Greenfield airports 'in principle'

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma on Tuesday said confirmed the Government of India has granted 'in principle' the approval for setting up of 15 Greenfield airports in the country.

These Greenfield airports will be set up in Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Hasan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Kannur and Aranmula in Kerala, Durgapur in West Bengal, Dabra in Madhya Pradesh, Pakyong in Sikkim, Karaikal in Pudducherry and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh.

The Government of India has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability.

The airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of RDG issued by the Government. Presently, airlines are operating to or from 76 airports in the country including major cities.

Government of India has set up an independent regulatory body, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), to determine the tariff for aeronautical services provided at major airports in the country.

Further, the fuel charges are levied by the airlines as a part of total airfare on account of cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and other relevant factors essential for airline operations. Concerned State Governments are responsible for rationalization of ATF pricing.