Why in News?
With the Prime Minister set to inaugurate the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport in Andhra Pradesh on August 1, an analysis compared its execution with Tamil Nadu’s stalled Parandur airport project.
Key Highlights
- Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport is scheduled for inauguration on 1 August 2026.
- Parandur Greenfield Airport in Tamil Nadu continues to face delays due to land acquisition and rehabilitation concerns.
- Land acquisition, compensation, and rehabilitation of affected families remain the principal bottlenecks in large greenfield infrastructure projects.
- The comparison highlights the importance of timely clearances, stakeholder consultation, and fair compensation for successful infrastructure development.
Greenfield Airport
- A new airport developed from scratch on previously undeveloped land, unlike a brownfield airport, which expands or upgrades an existing airport.
- In India, greenfield airports are approved under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008.
- Approval is granted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation after assessing:
- Demand and traffic potential
- Site suitability
- Environmental and statutory clearances
- Financial viability
- Airports are generally developed through public, private, or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.
Value Addition
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Airport Development Agency: Airports Authority of India (AAI) provides technical support and develops many airports.
- Constitutional Basis for Land Acquisition: Governed by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, which mandates fair compensation, rehabilitation, and social impact assessment.
- Significance: Greenfield airports improve regional connectivity under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, promote tourism, attract investment, and support balanced regional economic development.
[2024] Consider the following airports:
1. Donyi Polo Airport
2. Kushinagar International Airport
3. Vijayawada International Airport.
In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3.