PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects Worth Rs 9,800 Crore Virtually

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a series of 15 airport projects collectively valued at Rs 9,800 crore, emphasizing that these inaugurations should be viewed as part of the nation's developmental trajectory, rather than through the lens of impending general elections.

During a public rally in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi virtually inaugurated new terminal buildings at airports in Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Adampur. These terminal constructions, completed at a cost of Rs 8,903 crore, possess a combined capacity to cater to 61.5 million passengers annually.

Furthermore, the PM laid the foundation stones for new terminal buildings at Kadapa, Hubballi, and Belagavi Airports. These projects, undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), carry a total investment of Rs 908 crore and are anticipated to enhance the combined passenger handling capacity of the three airports to 9.5 million passengers per annum.

Addressing the crowd, PM Modi cautioned against viewing the infrastructure developments through the prism of electoral politics, stressing that they represent a broader developmental journey aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.

The PM highlighted the importance of extending modern infrastructure to smaller cities like Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, and Shravasti, underscoring the significance of urbanization as a catalyst for national progress.

Among the notable projects inaugurated was the new terminal at Lucknow Airport, operated by the Adani Group, with a capacity to handle approximately 13 million passengers annually, nearly tripling its previous capacity.

Additionally, PM Modi unveiled the expanded Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport, which now boasts a capacity to serve 40 million passengers annually, more than double its prior capacity of 17 million passengers per annum. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that its total passenger handling capacity has now surpassed 100 million passengers per annum.

The enhanced Terminal 1 features an expanded area of 206,950 square meters, equipped with 22 contact stands, aerobridges for boarding, and an upgraded baggage handling capacity of 6,000 bags per hour.

Amid these developments, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has reiterated the government's commitment to expanding the nation's airport and heliport infrastructure, with plans to increase the number of airports from about 150 to over 200 within the next five years.

Furthermore, recent aircraft orders from domestic carriers like IndiGo and Air India signal robust growth prospects for the aviation sector, with significant investments in fleet expansion and modernization initiatives.

BS