Neyveli Airport Licensing Awaits Regulatory and Security Clearances, Lok Sabha Informed
The grant of an aerodrome licence for Neyveli Airport in Tamil Nadu is subject to the fulfilment of key regulatory, security, and meteorological requirements, the Union government informed the Lok Sabha.
What Happened
Responding to a query raised by Cuddalore Member of Parliament M.K. Vishnu Prasad in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated that NLC India Limited (NLCIL), the owner of Neyveli Airport, has submitted an application for an aerodrome licence.
The Minister explained that the issuance of the licence depends on meeting the statutory standards set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), as well as the setup of necessary weather-monitoring equipment by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Key Highlights
- Development Expenditure: A total of ₹27.11 crore has been spent on developing infrastructure at Neyveli Airport under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN.
- Route and Airline Allocation: Under UDAN Round 4.2, the Neyveli-Chennai flight route was awarded to Air Taxi to run services using a 9-seater aircraft.
- Regulatory Prerequisites: Licencing approvals require clearance from the DGCA for civil aviation regulations and the BCAS for aviation security protocols.
- Operational Dependencies: The commencement of scheduled regional flights remains dependent on the physical and regulatory readiness of the airport facility.
- Infrastructure Evaluation: Ongoing expansion of facilities—including the runway, apron, and passenger terminal—is guided by land availability, traffic demand, technical feasibility, and regulatory clearances.
Why This Matters
Neyveli Airport was selected under the central government’s UDAN initiative to improve regional connectivity between smaller industrial hubs and major metropolitan areas like Chennai. Clarifying the status of the aerodrome licence outlines the procedural milestones required before commercial regional air services can begin operations.
What to Watch Next
Before commercial flights can take off from Neyveli, the facility must complete the regulatory assessments by the DGCA, secure safety and security approvals from the BCAS, and finalise the installation of required meteorological systems by the IMD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Neyveli Airport?
Neyveli Airport is owned by NLC India Limited (NLCIL), which has applied for the facility’s commercial aerodrome licence.
Which airline was awarded the Neyveli-Chennai route?
Air Taxi was awarded the Neyveli-Chennai route under UDAN Round 4.2 to operate flights using a 9-seater aircraft.
What is required before commercial flight operations can begin at Neyveli Airport?
Commercial operations can proceed once NLCIL receives regulatory clearance from the DGCA, security clearance from the BCAS, meteorological installations from the IMD, and the airport is fully certified as operational.
Source: Statement by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in the Lok Sabha, reported by The Hindu.