In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) shared that 66 Indian airports are now powered entirely by green energy. Notably, major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have achieved Level 4+ and higher Airports International Council (ACI) Accreditation, reaching carbon neutrality.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has undertaken various initiatives to move towards carbon neutrality and achieve net-zero carbon emissions at airports nationwide. This involves standardizing the carbon accounting and reporting framework for Indian airports. Airport operators with scheduled operations are advised to assess carbon emissions at their respective airports and work towards carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions progressively. The MoCA has also encouraged upcoming Greenfield Airports and state governments to prioritize carbon neutrality and net zero, emphasizing the use of green energy.
Dr. Singh highlighted that presently, 14 airports in the country operate under Public Private Partnership (PPP). These airports, leased by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), aim to enhance airport infrastructure and facilities through private sector efficiency and investment. The revenue generated from leased airports is reinvested by AAI to develop airport infrastructure nationwide.
As part of the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), 25 AAI airports, including Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, and others, are slated for leasing between 2022 and 2025.
Regarding the UDAN scheme, Dr. Singh informed the House that over 130 lakh people have benefited from it. The scheme, known as Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, aims to boost regional air connectivity at affordable rates, targeting unserved and underserved airports through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
Under UDAN, the government aims to operationalize 1000 UDAN routes and revive or develop 100 unserved and underserved airports, heliports, and water aerodromes by 2024. Currently, 517 Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) routes are operational, connecting 76 airports, including 9 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
