• Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Agra and Kanpur airports in Uttar Pradesh are providing intra-state and inter-state air connectivity. Lucknow airport served 65% of the passenger air traffic demand in Uttar Pradesh followed by Varanasi (32%) and the rest by Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Agra and Kanpur in 2016-17.
• Following is a list of 29 Unserved Airports/ airstrips in UP (as per Annexure 1B of RCS)
Unserved Airports/airstrips in UP |
330 |
Akbarpur |
340 |
Jagatpur |
350 |
Muirpur(Korba) |
331 |
Aligarh |
341 |
Jhansi |
351 |
Phaphamau |
332 |
Bakshi KaTalab |
342 |
Jhingura |
352 |
Pirthiganj |
333 |
Bareilly |
343 |
Kanpur (Chakeri) |
353 |
Rajwari |
334 |
Etawah |
344 |
Kanpur(Civil) |
354 |
Saharanpur (Sarsawa) |
335 |
Faizabad |
345 |
Kanpur (Kalyanpur) |
355 |
Sah-baj-quli |
336 |
Fursatganj IGRUA) |
346 |
Kasia |
356 |
Sardarnagar |
337 |
Ghazipur |
347 |
Lalitpur |
357 |
Shravasti |
338 |
Hindan |
348 |
Madhosingh |
358 |
Sultanpur (Amhai) |
339 |
Iradatganj
|
349 |
Meerut |
|
• In addition, following airstrips are being considered for inclusion in RCS as unserved airports/airstrips category
1 |
Moradabad |
4 |
Paliya (Kheri-Dudhwa) |
2 |
Azamgarh |
5 |
Farrukabad |
3 |
Chitrakoot |
6 |
Rasoolabad (Kanpur Dehat)
|
• State government is exploring possibility to upgrade 10 airstrips to No-Frills Airports in 10 divisions initially: Meerut, Moradabad, Faizabad, Saharanpur, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Azamgarh, Aligarh, Sonebhadra (Mirzapur) and Shravasti (Gonda/Devipatan)
• UP is a top tourist destination with aound 213 million domestic travellers (2nd highest in India) and 3.1 million foreign travellers (3rd highest in India) visiting the state in 2016.Out of the top tourist destinations in U.P., only Agra, Varanasi/Sarnath,Kushinagar, Allahabad, Lucknow, Ayodhya/Faizabad, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Dudhwa (Palia airstrip) have functional airport/ airstrips have functional airstrips/airports – signifying immense potential for investments in other top destinations like Vrindavan, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Chandra Prabha etc.
• The government is considering development of helipads/heliports to connect the tourist destinations like Vrindavan, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Chandra Prabha, Mahoba, Chunar, Deogarh.
• RCS flights can be successfully connected with
other parts of the country through airports/ airstrips at Kushinagar, Kanpur, Hindan (Ghaziabad), Palia(Kheri- near Dudhwa National Park).
• With a total population of more than 200 Million, Uttar Pradesh boasts of a labour force of over 70 Million of which over 40 million are non-agricultural labour force
• Commercial pilot license (CPL) courses approved by Directorate of Civil Aviation conducted at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA), Amethi and six private flying training academies, viz. 3 at Aligarh, 1 each at Faizabad, Sultanpur and Kanpur.
• Every year 40 cadets are trained at IGRUA, which is expected to rise to 110 cadets per year after an MoU is signed with Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) Inc. The university has also recently started the 1st executive aviation course in the country.
• Diploma courses for AME in Airframe & Engine, avionics, helicopter operations and Power Plant at Aeronautical Training Institute (ATI), Lucknow of the state government. The ATI, Lucknow has an annual intake of 90 students per year.
• Human Resource Support under Civil Aviation Policy 2017 –
- • State government to promote aviation related courses in premier institutes / universities in U.P. e.g. IITs, NIT and universities at Lucknow, Allahabad, Aligarh, Agra, BHU, Rohilkhand, Meerut etc. to generate skilled work force and professionals for civil aviation sector.
- • State government to facilitate the training of aviation professionals by (a) extending the scholarship scheme available for diploma and graduate courses to the courses related to AME, cabin crew and other civil aviation professionals; (b) a special cell to be made at directorate level to engage with airlines to support placement services to graduating and aspiring civil aviation professionals of Uttar Pradesh.
• In order to boost passenger traffic, under the Civil Aviation Policy 2017, the government has proposed to expand the air travel through LTC to certain categories of officers and employees on RCS flights for all official purposes.
• Publicity support for RCS routes will be provided by state government through information and tourism department
• Dedicatedto and fro bus service from airport will be provided by U.P. State Transport Corporation.
• Road connectivity of all RCS airports will be ensured and maintained by state Public Works Department on priority.
• To promote medical tourism in U.P. the Department of Tourism and Department of Medical Health of state government will facilitate airlines to collaborate with reputed medical institutions and hospitals.