Will Bihar become India's next air hub?

The government wants private and state players to invest in over 150 airstrips that are lying unused since World War II for meeting the growing demand of air travel in the country.

Though no policy has yet been formulated on the matter, the Civil Aviation Ministry is carrying out consultations with other ministries to prepare guidelines, including conditions for licensing of airports, primarily in the hinterland.

The concept of 'merchant' or private greenfield airports is also being evolved by the ministry in consultation with various other agencies like the Defence Ministry, Airports Authority of India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation, official sources said.

Broadly, a merchant airport will mean that a private investor acquires land on his own and constructs
an airport, subject to technical clearances and licensing.

Development of these unutilised airstrips could be carried out on the basis of merchant airport concept, but the government is yet to take a decision, the sources said, adding that some state governments also own such airstrips and they could also be involved in the process.

Airstrips that are on government's priority are those located at Pantnagar, Kamalpur, Kailashahar, Passighat, Tezu, Along, Daparizo, Tura and Zero, they said.

While the Civil Aviation Ministry recently held meetings with various stakeholders on the matter, an inter-ministerial group is already preparing guidelines and conditions for licensing private greenfield airports, the sources said.

Of the unutilised airstrips spread across the country, Bihar accounts for the maximum number of 22, followed by Rajasthan and Orissa at 18 each, West Bengal (16), Gujarat (11) and Madhya Pradesh (11).