Guidelines for setting up greenfield airports approved

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) The Government today finalised the guidelines for setting up of greenfield airports, heliports and upgradation of airfields, with provisions of getting site clearance within three months from the date of application and 'in principle' approval within three months of date of application.

In case the proposed project is located within the restricted air space, if it is air space under the jurisdiction of Defence Ministry--the approval of the Defence Ministry, will also be solicited while granting site clearance.

However, airports set up for private use, that is for use of the aerodrome for non-commercial purposes, will not be subjected to the guidelines, a Civil Aviaiton Minister announcement said.

All proposals for setting up of airports, in whichever category, will be routed through the Steering Committee.

Proposals that need to be referred to the Civil Aviation Ministry or the Government would require time beyond the prescribed time limit.

The applicant will be required to apply for clearances from various department or ministries, but all proposals will be submitted to the Steering Committee.

The Civil Aviation Ministry will serve as the secretariat of the Steering Committee, and will be responsible for processing proposals received, convening the meetings of the Committee and coordinating with various stakeholders.

The applicant proposing to set up an airport will make an application to the Steering Committee in the prescribed format for site clearance.

The proposals received will be forwarded to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for their comments.

AAI/DGCA would undertake site visit based on which they would submit their report to the Steering Committee.

Site clearance will be granted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation based on the report submitted by the AAI/DGCA.

The Steering Committee will convey its recommendations regarding the site clearance within three months of the application being made.

After obtaining the site clearance the applicant will make an application to the Steering Committee for 'in principle' approval, which will require another three months.

Applications for seeking clearances from Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance will be submitted in the prescribed format directly to these organisations under intimation to the Secretariat of the Steering Committee.

The guidelines for the purpose of granting approval will be issued by the various agencies. The guidelines shall be modified from time to time if the need arise.

After obtaining the 'in principle' approval the applicant would make an application to the DGCA in the prescribed format for the grant of aerodrome license.

The Steering Committee will monitor the progress of proposals granted 'in principle' approval.

If no significant progress is made in achieving specified milestones within a stipulated time period the Cmmittee may revoke the approval granted to the project.

The Government had already notified the Policy for Greenfield Airports. A Steering Committee had been constituted to coordinate and monitor the various clearances required for setting up of greenfield airports.

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