In a bid to avoid future situations like in Greater Noida, the ministry of civil aviation has moved a Cabinet note on Greenfield airports policy with explicit guidelines for approval of airport projects, including those within and outside the 150-km mark.
The new policy aims at making it easier to set up an airport in the country.
The new airport policy has dispensed with the earlier required mandatory approval of the Central government for setting up of any greenfield airport. It has instead suggested the setting up of a Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Civil Aviation Secretary to coordinate and monitor the clearances required from various agencies for setting up an airport.
According to the policy, a greenfield airport project to be set up by Airport Authority of India (AAI) or an Airport Company that is in compliance of the guidelines and is beyond 150 km of an existing civilian airport would not require prior approval of the Central Government. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will grant it license for operation directly. Whereas if a projects is beyond 150 km of an existing civilian airport, but is seeking relaxation from an existing guideline or policy, it would have to be considered by a steering committee on whose recommendations, the ministry would direct the DGCA to permit operations or not. If there were no consensus in the committee, the proposal would then go to the Union Cabinet for clearance.
In case an application for an airport project within 150 km of an existing airport is received, the Steering Committee will consider all relevant facts and circumstances including contractual liabilities. The Committee will also take into account whether the applicant has obtained relevant approvals required and then give its recommendations to the civil aviation ministry. Depending on ministry’s approval, the DGCA can grant a license to the project.
If the proposed project is within 150 km and also seeking relaxation from an existing guideline or policy, the application will first be considered by the Committee and after all relevant facts and circumstances including contractual liabilities and obtained approvals from the authorities concerned are taken will the Committee make recommendations to the ministry. The ministry will then place the matter before the Cabinet for consideration.
The policy has also suggested that cargo, non-scheduled aircraft airports and heliports don?t need to be submitted for approval to the Ministry of Civil Aviation but can be considered and decided at the DGCA level itself.
The policy has said that the steering committee that will examine various proposals will consist of secretary from a number of ministries including civil aviation, home affairs, defence, department of economic affairs, department of revenue and the planning commission. Other members in the committee include Indian met department director general, AAI chairman, DGCA and a joint secretary from the civil aviation ministry who will act as convener.