The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday sought responses of the Central and State governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) raising the issue of lack of flights from Gwalior airport. 

Justice Anand Pathak directed counsel to instructions on the issue and posted the matter for hearing in December.

The PIL was filed by Sudarshan Jhavar, the President of Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India, Gwalior (CREDAI).

The plea states that as per the Centre’s UDAN Policy of 2016, low cost flights and development of new airports in smaller cities was conceptualised to better serve the common man’s interests. It stated that in keeping with the Centre’s policy, the State also issued Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy in 2025.

However, even after 10 years of the UDAN initiative, Gwalior is lagging behind compared to other Indian cities in the matter of flight connectivity. 

The petitioner submitted that despite a ₹500 crore expenditure to construct the Gwalior airport named Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Airport, only 3 flights are operational from Gwalior.

Advocates Siddharth Sijoria and Madhur Bhargava appeared for the petitioner.

Deputy Solicitor General Praveen Newaskar appeared for the Union of India. 

Additional Advocates General Vivek Khedkar and Ankur Mody with Government Advocate Ravindra Dixit appeared for the State. 

[Read Order]