Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Approval from the Ministry of Defence is a requirement for setting up a Greenfield airport in India
2.According to the guidelines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should not grant a license for a new greenfield airport if it is within 150 kilometres of an existing civilian airport.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The approval process for setting up a Greenfield airport in India involves multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, outlines that the proposal for a new airport must go through a two-stage approval process. This includes obtaining ‘Site Clearance’ and ‘In-Principle’ approval. During this process, relevant stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Defence, are consulted to ensure compliance with various regulations and to address any strategic concerns. The guidelines state that no Greenfield airport would be allowed 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, the impact would be examined, and such cases would be decided by the government on a case-by-case basis.
Source: The Hindu
