The unserved airstrips in Tamil Nadu at Arakkonam, Chettinad, Cholavaram, Sulur and Ulundurpet are available in the UDAN Scheme document for bidding, according to Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said in the Rajya Sabha.

Responding to a query from DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi NVN Somu, the minister said five airports in the State - Salem, Vellore, Neyveli, Tanjore and Ramnad, were identified for the development and operation of Regional Connectivity Services (RCS) flights under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) Scheme. RCS flights have already commenced operations from Salem.

The development work at Neyveli and Vellore has been completed and the airports are currently undergoing the licensing process. The State Government is still in the process of acquiring land for the Ramnad airport. At Tanjore, the construction of a civil enclave can be taken up by AAI on the provision of the required Approach Road by the State Government.

RCS-UDAN scheme is a market-driven scheme, wherein airline operators assess the feasibility of operations on a particular route and bid under the scheme from time to time. As per provisions in the UDAN Scheme, revival/upgradation of unserved & underserved airports is done on its identification through valid bid & award to the Selected Airline Operator, the minister said.

To a question from AIADMK Member of Parliament M Thambidurai On the Parandur airport, the minister said in August 2024, the Government of India granted Site Clearance approval to Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, for the development of Greenfield Airport at Parandur, Tamil Nadu. In September 2024, the application for grant of ‘In-Principle’ approval along with the Detailed Project Report & other requisite documents have been received from TIDCO.

As per the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, the responsibility for implementation of the Greenfield airport project including land acquisition, funding, R&R etc. lies with the concerned airport developer or the State Government, as the case may be, the minister said.

Published on February 3, 2025