Former Civil Aviation Minister Rudy said the capacity of existing airports or brownfield airports cannot be increased beyond a point even after huge expenditures.
BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy made a strong case on Tuesday for the development of 30-40 greenfield airports in the country to meet the need of an increasing number of air passengers.
Joining the discussion on applications for grants to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Lok Sabha, he said upgrading existing airports and using defense enclaves for civil aviation is “not the future”. Former Civil Aviation Minister Rudy said the capacity of existing airports or brownfield airports cannot be increased beyond a point even after huge expenditures.
Likewise, the airports in defense enclaves cannot be upgraded, as air force aircraft do not require CAT-3 or night landing facilities that are essential for flying large civilian aircraft.
He asked the government to expedite the development of a new airport in Patna and focus on “the development of 25, 30 or 40 greenfield airports in the country.” Rudy said the first revolution in the civil aviation sector was started by the father of the current Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, Madhavrao Scindia, who opened the sector by allowing private airlines.
After that, low cost airlines revolutionized this sector in 2003 when Atal Bihari Vajyapee was Prime Minister.
Now, he said, it was time to develop major airports and follow the hub and spoke model to take civil aviation to new heights.
He also asked the government to develop a policy to encourage aerosport with huge potential.
Sangeeta Azad (BSP) urged the government to speed up the development of an airport in Azamgarh.
NCP member Sunil Tatkare said the government needs to expand Pune airport to allow landing of large aircraft.
Dushyant Singh (BJP) said the government needs to modernize the airports to meet the need for an increasing number of passengers.
ST Hasan (SP) demanded that an international airport be established in Moradabad to boost exports.
The others who spoke included MP Abdussamad Samadani (IUML) and Hasnain Masoodi (JKNC).
This post Need to develop 30-40 greenfield airports: Rudy was original published at “https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/need-to-develop-30-40-greenfield-airports-rudy/2468271/”
