Down the line next five years the capital will be used for expansion and modernising of existing terminals, new terminals and strengthening of runways
New Delhi, NFAPost: Upgradation/Modernisation of airports is a continuous process and is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Developers from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand / willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports.
AAI and other Airport Developers have targeted capital outlay of approximately Rs. 98000 crore in airport sector in the next five years for expansion and modernising of existing terminals, new terminals and strengthening of runways, among other activities. Out of this, Rs. 60000 crore (approx.) has been allocated for development of existing airports and Rs. 38000 crore (approx.) has been allocated for establishment of new Greenfield airports.
Government of India (GoI) has accorded ‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up of 21 new Greenfield Airports and the total estimated project cost of these 21 Greenfield airport projects is more than Rs. 45,000 crore.
Out of these, 11 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa and Shivamogga have been operationalised.
PPP Airport Operators namely Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Trivandrum have undertaken upgradation/ renovation works at respective airports at a CAPEX of more than Rs. 35,000 crore.
The list of major upgradation projects undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) is at Annexure.
The timelines for construction/ upgradation of airports depend upon various factors such as land acquisition, mandatory clearances, removal of obstacles, financial closure etc. by the respective airport developers.
The nation-wide lockdown and other impacts of covid-19 pandemic e.g. demobilisation of manpower, discontinuation of supply chain etc. and unprecedented adverse weather conditions have been the main attributing factors for delaying the upgradation projects undertaken by AAI.
The responsibility of implementation of airport projects including funding of the projects rests with the concerned airport developer including the respective State Government (in case the State Government is the project proponent).
