‘Unviable’, Rs 4 crore Pathankot airport project fails to take off

Developed under the Regional Connectivity Scheme — Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS — UDAN) for better network of flights, the Pathankot airport awaits commercial flights since April 5, 2021, the day its three-year contract with Alliance Air ended on April 5, 2021.

Replying to a question of MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa during the ongoing Lok Sabha session in New Delhi today, Minister of State of Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated that the Delhi - Pathankot - Delhi route was commenced by Alliance Air on April 5, 2018, and discontinued after the completion of its contract of three years.

The Pathankot airport, owned by the Indian Air Force, has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 4 crore during the first round of bidding under the RCS — UDAN. The airport was developed under the Viability Gap Funding (VGP) wherein the Centre establishes the infrastructure projects, which are economically desirable, but commercially non-viable.

In reply to the question whether the government proposes to operate any new flight from Delhi to Pathankot, the reply read, “Any airline may commence scheduled commercial operations between Pathankot and Delhi keeping in view the traffic and commercial viability.”

Randhawa said, “The reply is very vague in nature. I have got representations from the people demanding commencement of the flights from Pathankot. They have to travel to Amritsar (124 km) or Chandigarh (258 km) for catch their flights.”

MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma said, “I met the Minister of Civil Aviation recently. The real problem is that the airlines are not finding it economically viable to commence their flights under the existing conditions. Now, we have suggested adding the airports of Srinagar and Leh on the flight route to make it commercially viable for the airlines.”