Lucknow: The air connectivity to Uttar Pradesh has increased 3-fold in the last four years, with as many as 68 connections now to domestic destinations from eight functional airports in the state, against just four operational airports four years back.
The sustained efforts of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have started showing positive results as far as regional air connectivity is concerned and consequently, the number of passengers also increased by 27.2 percent in the year 2018-19 as compared to the year 2016-17.
By 2025, Uttar Pradesh will have the highest number of airports both domestic and international with a total of 21 airports including 5 international airports
The remarkable growth of the civil aviation sector in the past 4 years is the outcome of UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s commitment and vision to make Uttar Pradesh a civil aviation hub. The Yogi Government focused on the development of the airports in every division with the aim to provide air connectivity to every resident of the state.
The thrust to air travel emanates from the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme and the proactive stance taken by the Adityanath government to boost the aviation sector for tourism and industrial development.
In the last four years, there has been a rapid expansion of air services with development of 17 new airports. Till the year 2017, only Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Agra airports were operational in the state.
Over the next 3 years, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Hindon Airport have been given operational status and a total of 63 cities have been connected to air services from 25 cities.
Flights to soon start on 18 new routes
Under the Udaan-4 scheme, the state has got 18 new routes. The government has provided an incentive of Rs 34 crore under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
Construction work of selected Aligarh, Azamgarh, Shravasti, Moradabad, Chitrakoot and Myorpur (Sonbhadra) airports under RCS will be completed by April 2021. Development of new airports in Jhansi, Lalitpur and Saharanpur districts is underway.
Kanpur, Saharanpur, Jhansi and Lalitpur airports will be completed soon
New civil terminals and new 4-lane runways are being constructed on 48 acres of land in collaboration with AAI to expand the air services at Kanpur Airport. For the construction of a civil enclave at Sarsawa Airport in Saharanpur district, an area purchased at a cost of Rs 64 crores has been given to AAI. Besides, the development of Jhansi and Lalitpur airports is also underway. These projects will also accelerate the development of bulk drug parks and the Defence Industrial Corridors. With this, 12 other airports are also being developed by the government.
Noida International Airport to generate revenue of Rs 400.97 per passenger
To expedite the completion of the much-touted infrastructure project- Noida International Airport, the UP government has acquired 1334 hectares of land from its own resources. In addition, 48.097 hectares of land was acquired through rehabilitation and resettlement.
Under phase-1, 1,334 hectares of land was already handed over to the Switzerland-based Zurich International AG which has been roped in as the developer of the project
According to the plan of the project, under phase-1, the company would lay down two runways, commercial space, halls and other supporting facilities for the passengers so that the operations can be started by 2023-24 and in phase-2 passenger capacity will be increased and an additional runway will be constructed through which the state will get a revenue of Rs 400.97 per passenger.
International flights from Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh soon
The Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh has got the necessary clearances from aviation regulator DGCA to operate international flights from the facility. Kushinagar airport’s status as an international facility, will offer improved connectivity to the important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Once this airport begins operating international flights, it will become the third functional international facility in the state.
A total of 590 acres of land was purchased by the state government and it sanctioned an amount of Rs 210 crore for the construction of the airport and got the development works done at a rapid pace. The operation of the airport will create many employment opportunities in the eastern region of the state and will ensure the social and economic development of the entire region.
UP Govt provided Rs 947.91 crore for Ayodhya Airport
To facilitate the services of Airbus-321 and Boeing-787 aircrafts, the UP government has released a total of Rs 947.91 crore to purchase 600 acres of land desired in order to develop the Maryada Purushottam Shriram Airport, in the city of Lord Rama, Ayodhya. So far, a total of 230 acres of land has been purchased.
