Nagarjuna Sagar will be developed as water aerodrome: Centre

Hyderabad: Union minister for civil aviation Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd) on Monday informed that Telangana’s Nagarjuna Sagar water aerodrome has been identified under the UDAN scheme and a provision of Rs. 20 crores has been made under ‘Revival of unserved and underserved airports’ scheme for the development of water aerodrome and seaplane operations.

In a written reply to a question raised by Nalgonda MP Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Union minister said that the four rounds of bidding have been completed under the UDAN scheme so far. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the implementing agency, has awarded 66 UDAN routes in the state of Telangana so far under the concluded bidding rounds, out of which 42 routes have been operationalised.

Further, Gen. Singh said the ministry of civil aviation has already released a policy for the promotion of helicopter operations across the country. The policy covers various aspects like concessional ground handling charges, parking deposits, landing charges, service charges, credit facility with ATC, and training for Air Traffic Control with a view to making helicopter operations viable. The helicopter policy encourages airport operators/state governments/UTs to develop heliports.

As per the policy, state governments/UTs are required to set up an institutional mechanism to facilitate helicopter operations by obtaining permissions, approvals, clearances, etc. The government, through this policy, aims to stimulate air traffic and enhance air connectivity through helicopters by facilitating helicopter operations across the country.

Replying to another query raised by Capt. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Union minister said the Adilabad, Aleru, and Kagazpur airports/airstrips are available in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN scheme document while Jakranpally (Nizamabad), Palvancha, Mehbubnagar, Mamnoor (Warangal), and Basantnagar (Peddapalli) airstrips are not listed in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN document. However, these airstrips may be included in the list at the request of the state government of Telangana, as per the provisions of the UDAN scheme document.

An airport that is included in the awarded routes of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) and requires upgradation/development for commencement of RCS operations, is developed under the ‘Revival of unserved and underserved airports’ scheme.

The ministry of civil aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21 October 2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market-driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN.

However, the minister evaded replying directly to the question of whether the government of Telangana has allocated 950 acres of land for Warangal airport to be revived under the UDAN scheme. Instead, he said that the Warangal airport was not in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN document.