Jharkhand's Bokaro, Dumka airports await DGCA nod after completion of development work, Centre tells RS
New Delhi, July 27
Development work at four of the six airports selected under the Centre's Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN in Jharkhand has been completed, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question raised by House member Parimal Nathwani.
According to the government, the airports covered under the scheme in Jharkhand are Bokaro, Dumka, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Deoghar and Daltonganj.
Flight operations are already functional from Jamshedpur and Deoghar airports, while infrastructure development at Bokaro and Dumka airports has been completed.
However, work on the Hazaribagh and Daltonganj airport projects has not yet commenced, as the state government has not provided the required land for the projects, the Centre said. As a result, progress on both projects remains stalled.
The government further informed the Rajya Sabha that Rs 122.04 crore had been sanctioned in recent years for airport development projects in Jharkhand, of which Rs 117.61 crore has already been spent. The funds have been utilised to develop aviation infrastructure and improve air connectivity to smaller cities in the state.
While the Centre confirmed that development work at Bokaro and Dumka airports has been completed, it did not specify when commercial flight services would begin from these two facilities.
Local official sources indicated that the process of obtaining approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for flight operations is currently underway.
Notably, the government launched a new version of the UDAN scheme on July 4, 2026. The revamped programme aims to connect 120 new or underserved airports and destinations across the country over the next decade, to extend affordable regional air connectivity to nearly 40 million people.
The UDAN scheme was conceptualised under the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, with a 10-year vision, to connect Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through a market-driven yet financially supported model.
The scheme incentivised airlines through concessions and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to operate on regional routes, ensuring affordable fares and improved accessibility.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some news about our region! I'm from Dumka and it's so frustrating that we still rely on trains or long road trips to reach Ranchi or Kolkata. An airport would be a game-changer for students, patients needing medical care, and local businesses. Hope the state government also clears the land issues for Hazaribagh and Daltonganj - that's basic groundwork na! 🙏
While UDAN is a good initiative, I have concerns about sustainability. Many regional routes have struggled because airlines find them unviable once VGF ends. Unless there's a plan to develop local economies that create demand, these airports might remain underutilized. Also, Rs 122 crore for 6 airports seems tight - hope safety isn't compromised. Let's see how many flights actually operate once DGCA clears them.
It's great that Jamshedpur and Deoghar already have flights - that's real progress! But I wonder about the long-term vision. Connecting 120 new airports over 10 years is ambitious, but will the smaller airports like Bokaro and Dumka have enough passengers to sustain regular flights? The state government needs to speed up land acquisition for Hazaribagh and Daltonganj - that's basic administrative work. Hope we see results soon!
People in Tier-2 and 3 cities also deserve good air connectivity. I've traveled from Bokaro to Delhi by train - it's 18 hours! An airport would cut that to 2 hours. But the real challenge is making sure flights are affordable. UDAN fares are capped, but will airlines operate regularly? Also, why is DGCA taking so long to give approvals? Clear the paperwork fast and let's get flying! ✈️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.