UDAN scheme generates one crore seat capacity in the country: Sinha

Union minister of state for Aviation Jayant Sinha today
claimed that the UDAN scheme has become very successful in the country with the
creation of one crore seat capacity.
Addressing newsmen here, Mr Sinha said out of 70 airports in the country over 30
airports are now opened up for UDAN and Jharsuguda airport in odisha has now
added in the aviation map of the country.
He described that the Jharsugida airport as a major gain for the people of Western
Odisha from where flight service will be commenced on March 31 to New Delhi,
Hyderabad and other places.
Describing the the the Biju Patnaik International Airport(BPAI) as the fastest
growing airport in the country, Mr Sinha said it has registered a higher growth of
40 per cent with 30 lakh capacity .
He said a new terminal at an investment of Rs 935 crore in the BPIA will come
up in the next 30 months and with the new terminal and linkage between the old
BPIA with the new BPIA, the capacity of the airport, Mr.Sinha said will increase
to nearly 90 lakh, almost three times than the present capacity.
The Union Minister flayed the BJD government in Odisha for not cooperating
in extending the required assistance needed for the development in the aviation
sector.
He said considering the high growth of passengers in the Bhubaneswar airport,
the centre had decided to construct seven more aerobridge taking the total
aerobridge to 11 at the BPIA.
Mr Sinha said soon there will be a visible improvement in the parking system at
the BPIA adding that the private vehicle will not be charged for dropping the
passengers while the commercial vehicle will be charged Rs.40 for picking up
the passengers form the airport.
He said the work of Rourkela and Jeypore airports has already been finished
and soon these two air ports would be linked under the Udan scheme.
On the establishment of the second airport in Bhubaneswar, Mr Sinha said the
centre is not getting any favorable response from the state government on the
acquisition of land for the second airport.
He said once the land acquisition and forest clearance obtained from the state
the work for the second airport in Bhubanesawar will be commenced.
On the establishment of airport in Paradip, Mr Sinha said evaluation for setting
up of airport is being worked out.
The Union Minister accused the BJD government in Odisha of not following the
cooperative federalism and regretted that central projects worth over Rs.1.36 lakh
crore in the Refinery, power, railways and coastal highway are pending in Odisha
due to the non cooperation from the government.
The development in Odisha could be possible if there will be same government
both in the state and also at the centre and to justify his stand, Mr.Sinha cited the
various developmental projects were initiated and implemented in Jharkhand only
because of” double engine” of same government at the centre and in the state.