๐ Q.7 IAS Prelims 2024 โ Current Affairs (Economics | Infrastructure | Aviation)
๐งท Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
๐ The Question:
Consider the following airports:
- Donyi Polo Airport
- Kushinagar International Airport
- 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
โ Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
๐ง Curiosity Raiser
Why does UPSC repeatedly test Greenfield airports when aviation seems like a static topic?
๐ Enrichment Notes (Prelims-Focused | Policy + Facts)
โ๏ธ What is a Greenfield Airport?
- An airport constructed from scratch at a new site
- No prior aviation infrastructure existed
- Governed by Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008
๐๏ธ Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008 โ Key Steps
- Identification of suitable site
- Pre-feasibility study
- Site Clearance by Central Government
- In-Principle Approval by Ministry of Civil Aviation
๐ Airport-wise Analysis
โ๏ธ Donyi Polo Airport (Hollongi), Arunachal Pradesh
- Constructed as a new airport
- No earlier civil airport existed
- Approved under Greenfield Airports Policy
โ Greenfield โ Correct
โ๏ธ Kushinagar International Airport, Uttar Pradesh
- Developed as a new international airport
- Major Buddhist tourism hub
- Approved as Greenfield project
โ Greenfield โ Correct
โ Vijayawada International Airport, Andhra Pradesh
- Earlier known as Gannavaram Airport
- Existing airport upgraded and expanded
- Not constructed from scratch
โ Not a Greenfield airport
๐ง UPSC Trap Alert
UPSC often mixes:
- Upgraded brownfield airports
with - True Greenfield airports
๐ Always check โfrom scratchโ vs โexpandedโ
๐งโโ๏ธ IAS Monk Whisper
Greenfield airports are not about flights โ they are about policy footprints on fresh land.