Although the condition that no airport would be allowed within this distance stays, the cabinet decided that if there is an application it would be considered by a steering committee.
There has been an upheaval of protest over the closure of the present HAL airport in Bangalore and Begumpet airport in Hyderabad as per the contractual obligations to facilitate the opening of new airports in the two cities.
The Cabinet has now done away with the mandatory approval of the Central Government for setting up of any greenfield airport. Instead a steering committee would be set up under the chairmanship of Secretary (Civil Aviation) to coordinate and monitor the clearances required from various agencies for setting up an airport.
A greenfield airport to be set up by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) or an Airport Company that is in compliance of the guidelines and is beyond 150 kms of an existing civilian airport would not require prior approval from the Centre.
Airports for cargo and/or non-scheduled flights and for heliports need not be submitted for approval of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and may be considered at the level of DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).
Pvt airports okayed
In another decision, the Union Cabinet relaxed conditions regarding setting up of private airports.
This could lead to the construction of a large number of airports by big industrial houses and the ultra-rich.
Private-operated airports connecting far-flung areas might also come up thanks to the decision.
Reason
One of the main reasons for the ministry to relax these provision is because the number of aircraft for private use has increased from 96 in December 1997 to 229 in September 2007, a growth of about 139 per cent.
Similarly, aircraft for non-scheduled use have increased from 46 to 196, while other aircraft for Government and miscellaneous use have increased from 247 to 373, over the same period. The growth had placed additional burden on existing airports and often came in the way of scheduled passenger traffic.
