 Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Mar 24: Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha Nominated), Er. Gulam Ali Khatana raised significant issues concerning expansion of aviation infrastructure, regional air connectivity, and passenger convenience in the Rajya Sabha through Unstarred Questions No. 3376 and 3377 addressed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Highlighting the urgent need to strengthen connectivity in remote and border districts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Shri Gulam Ali sought clarity on proposals for establishing new airports or civil enclaves in regions such as Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, and Kargil.
Responding to the queries, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed that no formal proposals have been received under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008 for setting up new airports in these Union Territories. However, the Government has initiated exploratory steps including feasibility assessments and site visits in key locations such as Kishtwar, Udhampur, Kargil, Nyoma, Diskit, Turtuk, and Zanskar.
The Minister further highlighted that the Government is prioritizing the civilian utilization of existing defence airstrips as a pragmatic approach to enhancing connectivity in these strategically important regions.
Under the UDAN scheme, several airstrips in Jammu & Kashmir-including Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, and Udhampur-have already been identified for potential operations. Flight services may commence in these areas based on airline participation in future bidding rounds.
Specific developments include:
Feasibility found for a civil enclave at Udhampur Air Force Station (subject to clearances)
Assessment underway for civilian operations at Kishtwar airfield
Proposal for land allocation for a civil enclave at Thoise in Ladakh.
BJP Sr. Leader also strongly raised concerns regarding passenger inconvenience caused by continued reliance on bus-based boarding at many airports across the country.
In response, the Ministry clarified that airport infrastructure, including installation of aerobridges, is managed by operators such as the Airports Authority of India and is expanded based on factors like passenger traffic, operational requirements, land availability, and airline preferences.
The Government noted that while major airports have seen significant aerobridge deployment, several airports continue to depend on buses, and no fixed national timeline has been set for complete transition to aerobridge-based boarding.
Khatana emphasized that:
o Remote and border regions must receive priority in connectivity infrastructure
o Tourism and economic development in J&K and Ladakh depend heavily on improved air access
o Passenger comfort and dignity should be enhanced by reducing dependence on bus transfers at airports
He urged the Government to adopt a time-bound and region-focused approach to ensure equitable infrastructure development and improved travel experience across the country. |
