The Hindu : National : Greenfield airports policy a consolidated one: Patel

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Greenfield airports policy a consolidated one: Patel

Vinay Kumar

Will aim at cutting down procedural hassles

DGCA competent to grant licence for operation of airport
Demands for new airports in Chennai and Kolkata

NEW DELHI: The new policy for Greenfield airports aims at cutting down procedural hassles, numerous mandatory clearances from the Centre and cater to the needs of growing air traffic in the country.

At least two proposals for Greenfield airports are in various stages of scrutiny at the Centre – Jevar near greater Noida city in Uttar Pradesh and Navi Mumbai . The airports will ease the pressure on the existing airports in Delhi and Mumbai and help decongest air traffic to and from two of the busiest airports.

Official sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry said that the proposal for the Jevar airport, pushed vigorously by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, has been sent to the Union Law Ministry for looking into contractual aspects as it happens to be in the vicinity of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport, which is being modernised and restructured by a joint venture consortium led by the GMR group.

Environmental issues

In the case of Navi Mumbai, certain environmental issues have to be sorted out by the Prime Minister’s Office in a meeting with various stakeholders. Both these airports will not be affected by the new policy for Greenfield airports, sources said.

There have also been demands from various quarters to have additional new airports in Sriperumbudur near Chennai and in Kolkata though the Centre has not received any proposals from the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments.

“The new policy is a consolidated and updated one, tailored to meet growing air traffic demand in the country,” Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel observed.

Under the new policy, cleared by the Union Cabinet on Thursday, proposals to set up Greenfield airport which is beyond 150 km of an existing civilian airport will not require prior approval of the Central government.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) would be competent to grant license for operation of the airport as per existing rules and notifications. If it seeks redemption or relaxation from any other guideline or existing policy or rule, it would be considered by a Steering Committee, headed by the Civil Aviation Secretary. The Union Cabinet will come into picture only when the Committee fails to arrive at a consensus. The DGCA would consider such proposals for grant of license only after the approval of the Central government.

In case of a proposal to set up an airport within 150 km of an existing airport, the application shall be considered by the Steering Committee. The Committee shall consider all relevant facts and circumstances including contractual liabilities. After the Committee’s nod, the proposal will be sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry which shall place it before Union Cabinet for consideration.

Airports for cargo or non-scheduled flights and for heliports need not be submitted for approval to the Civil Aviation Ministry. These cases may be considered and decided by the DGCA.

However, official sources pointed out, certain functions to be performed at the airport such as air traffic services, security, customs and immigration would continue to be performed by the Central agencies.

The decision to allow construction of private airports, airstrips and heliports for private use would open the doors to private players like Tata, Reliance, Sahara and Vedanta who have already submitted their proposals to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Ministry has about 10 proposals for private airports, airstrips in the pipeline.

Renewal of licence

Along the same lines, applications for renewal of licence for private airports need not go to the Centre. As many as 26 such renewals, including private airports in Durgapur and Bokaro, are pending with the Ministry, sources pointed out.

The number of aircraft for private use has increase from 96 in 1997 to 229 in September 2007, registering a growth of nearly 140 per cent. Similarly, aircraft for non-scheduled use have increase from 46 to 196 while other aircraft for government and miscellaneous use have increased from 247 to 373 over the same period, putting additional burden on existing airports.

Practices adopted in the U.S., UK, Australia and New Zealand show that approvals and licenses for private airports are issued by their safety regulator.

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