In a significant development, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled ambitious plans to construct nine new airports in Uttar Pradesh over the next two years. During the Rajya Sabha’s Question Hour, Minister Scindia highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to the civil aviation sector, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The minister emphasized the remarkable progress made in the aviation sector, noting that in the first 65 years of independence, only 74 airports were built. However, under the Modi government’s leadership in the last nine years, a total of 75 airports, including airports, heliports, and waterdromes, have been developed, bringing the grand total to 149.
Furthermore, Minister Scindia pointed out that while a mere three greenfield airports were established in the initial 65 years, the current government successfully inaugurated 12 greenfield airports since 2014.
Focusing on Uttar Pradesh’s aviation landscape, Minister Scindia shared that only six airports were developed in the state over the past 65 years. However, the government, in a commendable feat, has added three additional airports in the last nine years, bringing the state’s total to 18.
“We are set to build nine more airports in Uttar Pradesh over the next two years, bringing the total count to 18,” announced Minister Scindia.
Addressing the Meerut airport project, the minister outlined that operations with ATR aircraft, using Visual Flight Rating (VFR), can commence once the state government provides an additional 115 acres of land. Meerut, identified during the third round of bidding under the UDAN scheme, awaits licensing for RCS flights.
FlyBig has been awarded the Meerut-Lucknow-Meerut route for RCS flights in the UDAN 4.2 round of bidding. The service, utilizing a 19-seater aircraft, is not designated for ATR 72 aircraft.
In conclusion, Minister Scindia affirmed that the selected airline operator can commence RCS flights from Meerut airport once it is ready and licensed.
