TBM Staff - Mumbai The Central Government has announced an ambitious five-year plan to develop and expand more than 50 airports in smaller cities across India, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and infrastructure.
This initiative, led by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), involves collaboration between the central government, state authorities, and private players, with projects extending up to 2030.
The plan comes in response to a surge in domestic air travel, with Indian air traffic reaching a record high of 477,554 passengers on September 2, surpassing the previous peak of 470,751 in April this year. The increasing demand for air travel has underscored the need for improved airport infrastructure in smaller cities.
One of the key projects under this initiative is the development of Bihta Airport, which will serve as a secondary airport for Bihar’s capital, Patna. Scheduled for its foundation ceremony by the end of 2024, Bihta Airport is set to alleviate the pressure on Patna Airport, which is expected to reach capacity by the early 2030s.
The new airport will feature over 60 check-in counters, 15 self-check-in kiosks, and a peak-hour handling capacity of 3,000 passengers. It is projected to serve up to 5 million passengers annually over the next 20 years.
In addition to Bihta, greenfield airports are planned in Ankleshwar and Dwarka in Gujarat. These developments are expected to drive air travel growth in currently underserved cities, as emerging industries and infrastructure demand better connectivity.
The government is also preparing to develop new civil enclaves at various air force stations, including Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Hasimara in West Bengal, and Thoise in Ladakh. Furthermore, upgrades are planned for existing airports to accommodate larger aircraft.
For instance, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) operations will be adapted for narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320 at Agatti Airport, and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations will be implemented at Pantnagar Airport in Uttarakhand. Mysuru Airport will also be expanded to handle narrow-body aircraft.
India currently has 131 operational airports, including international, domestic, and customs airports. With air traffic on the rise, Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air, are set to meet the demand by adding over 1,600 new aircraft by the end of the decade. This expansion aims to strengthen air connectivity and boost regional development across the country.
