Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia revealed on Monday the ambitious plan to construct nine new airports in Uttar Pradesh within the next two years.
Responding to queries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Scindia underscored the Modi government's unwavering commitment to advancing the civil aviation sector.
Scindia pointed out that while only 74 airports were built in the first 65 years of independence, the current government has successfully developed 75 airports in just the past nine years. This comprehensive tally includes airports, heliports, and waterdromes, marking a significant boost to the nation's aviation landscape.
Speaking specifically about Uttar Pradesh, Scindia outlined the historical context, noting that only six airports were established in the state over the initial 65 years.
However, under the leadership of the current government, three additional airports have been inaugurated in the last nine years.
Scindia announced plans for an ambitious expansion, with nine more airports slated for construction in Uttar Pradesh over the next two years. This strategic move is set to elevate the state's total count to an impressive 18 airports.
Meerut airport details
Addressing a query regarding the Meerut airport, the minister clarified that operations with ATR aircraft, utilizing Visual Flight Rating (VFR), can commence once the state government allocates an additional 115 acres of land.
"Meerut is an unlicensed airport and was identified during the third round of bidding under the UDAN scheme for development and to operate RCS flights," Scindia said in a written reply.
He further added, "Only after the airport is ready and licensed, the Selected Airlines Operator can start operating RCS flights from the Meerut airport."
In the recent UDAN 4.2 round of bidding, the Meerut-Lucknow-Meerut route was awarded to FlyBig. This entails the operation of RCS flights with a 19-seater aircraft and a frequency of 133 seats per week, excluding ATR 72 operations.
