India will have 220 airports in next 2-3 years, says Scindia
Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Jun, 2023 01:35 PM
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced on Wednesday that India is set to have 200-220 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes in the next two to three years.
Speaking at a Press conference in Delhi, the minister highlighted that until 2014, only 74 airports were operational in the country. However, by March 2023, another 74 airports, helicopters, and water aerodromes have been successfully established.
Scindia outlined the objective of reaching a total of 220 airports by 2024-25, including the recent declaration of Tirupati, Vijayawada, Kushinagar, and Mopa Airports as international airports, bringing the total number of international airports in India to 30.
The minister further emphasised ongoing efforts to enhance capacity at metro airports, with plans to increase overall capacity from the current 221 million passengers per annum (MPPA) to over 456 MPPA in the next decade.
"Expansion projects are underway or completed at airports such as DIAL, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Additionally, the construction of Greenfield Airports in Jewar and Navi Mumbai will boost capacity expansion in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively," he said.
Scindia also highlighted the substantial progress in Greenfield airport development, with 11 operationalised in the past nine years. "In-principle approval has been granted for an additional 11 Greenfield airports, including Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat," said the minister.
The minister underscored the significant increase in the number of airports in the northeastern states, nearly doubling from nine airports in 2014 to 17 airports currently operational.
The new airports include Hollongi, Ziro, Pasighat, Dibrugargh, Tezpur, Pakyong, etc.
Regarding investment, Scindia mentioned the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), projecting a CAPEX of over Rs 98,000 crore from FY2019-20 to FY2024-25.
"The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to contribute approximately Rs 25,000 crore, while the remaining expenditure will be borne by airport developers under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. As of March 2023, Rs 53,655 crore has already been spent. The AAI has made a capital expenditure of over Rs 20,000 crore in the past nine years to bolster the civil aviation sector," he said.
"Looking ahead, India is on track to witness an impressive expansion of its airport infrastructure over the next five years, with projections indicating the establishment of over 200 airports. Additionally, a leasing process for 29 aircraft is currently underway at GIFT City, a meticulously planned financial and technology hub located in Gujarat," said the minister.
Scindia also drew attention to the progress made in implementing the Digi Yatra initiative at AAI-managed airports. More than half of the AAI airports have successfully integrated Digi Yatra, a digital travel experience aimed at streamlining passenger processes.
However, the minister acknowledged the comparatively lower adoption rate of Digi Yatra in private airports, ranging from 10 to 20 per cent.
"Efforts are being made to encourage wider implementation of this digital travel initiative in private airports to ensure a consistent and efficient travel experience for passengers," he said.
Also, two gamblers -- Ram Balak Mandal and Sanjeev, were arrested. Besides, a woman bootlegger, Sucheta was arrested from whose possession the police recovered illicit liquor.
Mann pledged to provide a holistic environment for utilising the innovative ideas of youngsters for the growth and prosperity of state. "My target is to ensure that the youth of Punjab are not branded as aimless. I want you to be your own role model, therefore, no one else can take advantage of your abilities and potential."
The official said that further to identify other members of the drug syndicate, the officers laid a trap and apprehended the recipient of the said contraband drugs. The recipient came from Hyderabad to Mumbai to collect the drugs. This person was further supposed to deliver the drugs to an African person in Navi Mumbai.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said the drug trade which had flourished during the previous Akali-BJP and the Congress regime had ruined the future generations of the state.
Troopers of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army and BRO personnel under 'Project Swastik' swung into action immediately, and launched an all-out rescue mission. A total of 23 people, including six from a deep valley, have been pulled out alive. They have been shifted to the nearby medical facilities of the Indian Army.
While denying him bail, Judge Nagpal had said that Sisodia can, prima facie, be held to be the "architect of the criminal conspiracy". He observed that the payment of advance kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore was meant for him and his other colleagues in the AAP government.
