VISAKHAPATNAM/CHENNAI: The '150 km aerial distance' rule, which prohibits the construction of a greenfield airport within that radius, will no longer apply if the capacity of the existing aerodrome is saturated, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Sunday.
"When it comes to the 150-kilometre radius policy, it is a policy that guides the initiation of airport development. Once capacity is saturated, the clause no longer applies. There is an opportunity for the State to cater to a second airport," Naidu told the media after landing at Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam on a validation flight.
"So, the policy ensures the operational stability of the first airport, but it does not restrict the development of another airport once capacity has been saturated," he added.
The comment came merely weeks after Minister Naidu told the Parliament that the Centre had rejected the proposal under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN for the greenfield airport in Hosur, the rapidly growing industrial hub in the western part of Tamil Nadu, stating that the proposed site lies around 75 km from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
As per the concessionaire agreement between the Civil Aviation Ministry and Bengaluru International Airport Limited, permission will not be granted to set up a new airport or upgradation of an existing facility if it is within 150 km radius. The bar is for 25 years, till 2033.
However, Minister Naidu’s latest comment would sure offer hope to the Tamil Nadu government, as Kempegowda Airport recorded 41 million passengers in the 2024-25 financial year, a growth of 10 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of domestic and international passengers.
The present capacity of the airport is around 55 million passengers per annum.
That is, if the airport continues to grow at the same rate, it would touch – and even cross – its capacity in just three years. For the record, BIAL has plans to increase capacity to 100 million passengers/annum, but it is not clear if the “saturation” that the minister spoke about is calculated on the basis of original capacity or intended capacity.
As per existing rules, no greenfield airport is permitted within an aerial distance of 150 km of an existing civilian airport. However, if a greenfield airport is proposed within 150 km of an existing civilian airport, its impact on the existing aerodrome is examined on a case-by-case basis.
The minister said there has been a concerted effort to create airports not only for current operations but also for future needs, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, island regions, and the northeastern states.
Citing statistics, Naidu said China, which has a population similar to India’s, operates about 4,000 aircraft.
The minister said the Ministry of Civil Aviation is also encouraging states to develop second airports in metro cities to meet growing demand.
He also said that the Noida International Airport at Jewar is on the verge of completing all necessary licensing approvals, and the government is targeting its inauguration later this month or in early February.
Replying to a query on the inauguration of Bhogapuram Airport, Naidu said it could take place in May or June, and the Andhra Pradesh government is trying to secure Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s date for the event.
Asked about Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s proposal for a new greenfield international airport at Amaravati, the aviation minister said it reflects the CM's vision of creating a world-class, futuristic, and tech-savvy capital for the state.
On the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, Naidu said the investigation is proceeding at its own pace in a thorough and highly professional manner, with the participation of several countries, and added that it is important to adhere to global and international standards in accident investigation practices.
"This has been a priority for us, and we are doing a very good job in that regard. From the ministry to the investigation team, we are providing all necessary support to ensure there is no shortage of resources," he told PTI Videos.