AAI Chairman Confirms Finalization of Long-Term Master Plans for 91 Airports

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has successfully concluded the development of long-term master plans for 91 airports across the country. The primary focus of these plans is to ensure the smooth movement of passengers and facilitate future expansion, eliminating potential bottlenecks related to land constraints.

In his New Year message to the organization, AAI Chairman Sanjeev Kumar emphasized the meticulous development of these master plans to align airport expansions seamlessly with growth. These plans are designed to address future needs for capacity expansion and provide a comprehensive framework for short, medium, and long-term planning over a span of more than 20 years.

According to the Airports Authority of India, it oversees a total of 129 airports, including 23 international airports, 98 domestic airports, and 25 civil enclaves at defense airfields, along with eight customs airports.

Kumar acknowledged the collaborative efforts of numerous officers, engineers, and technocrats over an extended period in developing these master plans. As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance airport capacity to meet increasing passenger demand and ensure smooth operations, the authority has devised comprehensive plans to decongest 70 airports, including major ones such as Kolkata and Chennai. Measures include additional check-in and immigration counters, entry gates, and flight adjustments during peak hours.

Addressing the development of greenfield airports, Kumar highlighted plans for new airports in Dolo, Silchar City (Assam), and Kota (Rajasthan). Additionally, upgrades are underway for airports in Rewa, Datia, Satna (Madhya Pradesh), and Sholapur (Maharashtra). Operations are being resumed at five airports in Uttar Pradesh, and licenses have been received for Moradabad, Azamgarh, and Aligarh.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation aims to increase the number of airports in the country from 149 to 220, including heliports and water aerodromes, within the next three to five years. Kumar noted that new terminal buildings are in development, with those in Gwalior, Pune, Kolhapur, Adampur, Saharanpur, and Jabalpur set for inauguration in the current month.

ET