India’s Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced 16 new airports across five central Indian states on January 31st. These airports have been planned keeping in mind the larger infrastructure project to enhance multi-level connectivity in an effort to boost the economy. The five states in the country’s central region getting the new airports include Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
Upcoming connections in central India
Scindia addressed a virtual conference on January 31st and declared his ministry’s plans of constructing 16 new airports in central India. The discussion was part of the PM Gati Shakti scheme launched last year.
The Gati Shakti initiative will bring together the infrastructure schemes of multiple state governments and ministries, such as roadways, railways, UDAN, etc. Through this undertaking, the Indian government plans to provide integrated and smooth connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services by connecting all modes of transport with one another.
Speaking about the upcoming airports in central India, Scindia said,
“An airport will be built at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. Airports will also be built in Ambikapur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh. Nine airports will be built in Uttar Pradesh, one in Rajasthan, and two in Maharashtra. National Highways of one lakh km will be widened under the PM-Gati Shakti.”
New airports in the last few years
Scindia stressed on the importance of investing in new infrastructure to develop the nation’s economy. He also highlighted the initiatives to build several new airports in the country in the last few years, stating,
“Only 74 airports were built in the last 70 years, now 66 more airports have become functional in last 7 years and India has total 140 airports as on date.”
The new airports have been built with the idea of boosting the regional economy and eventually generate more employment. One such example is the Kushinagar International Airport, inaugurated last year in Uttar Pradesh. The airport is expected to help connect key Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the region and give a significant push to tourism in the area.
The Delhi-National Capital Region is also set to receive its second airport called Jewar International Airport. Slated for completion in three years, it is expected to serve around 70 million passengers at full capacity.
Billions allocated for airport infrastructure
In December last year, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced its plans of developing 21 new airports and upgrading the infrastructure of several existing ones. The project will cost around ₹25,000 crore (approx. $3.3 billion) in the next four to five years.
Some airports proposed under this initiative include Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Hassan, Bijapur and Shimoga in Karnataka, and Datia in Madhya Pradesh.
Part of the budget will also be spent to modify existing terminals, setting up newer ones, and expansion and strengthening of existing runways, aprons, and control towers.
Building new airport infrastructure to improve regional connectivity is always welcome. However, this could only work when new domestic routes are also planned. Hopefully, the government will also keep its promise of developing profitable routes to all the proposed airports.
Source: simplefying.com