look news india
The central government has announced a comprehensive five-year plan to develop and expand over 50 airports in smaller cities. This strategic initiative, led by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), aims to strengthen airport infrastructure by 2030 through various projects.
This scheme has been announced at a time when the demand for domestic air travel in the country has reached record levels. A report said that on September 2, domestic air traffic reached 477,554 passengers. Earlier on April 21 this year, this figure was 470,751.
Bihta airport will have a capacity of 50 lakh passengers
Under this plan, Bihta Airport in Bihar will also be developed, which will serve as a secondary airport for Bihar's capital Patna. The foundation stone laying ceremony of Bihta Airport is believed to take place by the end of 2024. Once operational, Bihta Airport will have over 60 check-in counters, over 15 self-check-in kiosks and a capacity to handle 3,000 passengers during peak hours. The annual capacity of this airport is estimated to be up to 5 million passengers in the next two decades.
Construction of Greenfield airports at Ankleshwar and Dwarka
The five-year plan also includes the construction of greenfield airports at Ankleshwar and Dwarka in Gujarat. According to Pragya Priyadarshini, vice president of management consulting firm Primus Partners, the planned development projects are expected to significantly increase air travel demand from currently underserved or unserved cities. As new industries, infrastructure and services emerge in these regions, the need for efficient connectivity with other parts of the country and the world will increase.
Indian airlines will also increase capacity
According to the report, apart from the new airport, the government is preparing to start development work on new civil enclaves at several air force stations. The projects scheduled for the next five years include Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Hasimara in West Bengal and Thoise in Ladakh. Apart from this, there are also plans to relocate the existing airport to accommodate larger aircraft. Currently, 131 airports operate in India, including international, domestic and customs airports. As air traffic is increasing, Indian airlines are gearing up to meet the growing demand. Major airlines like IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air are planning to introduce more than 1,600 new aircraft by the end of the decade to further enhance capacity and connectivity.