AAI working on expansion plans worth Rs 25,000 Cr in next 5 years: Gen VK Singh

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up developmental projects worth around Rs 25,000 crores over the next five years for expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, expansion or strengthening of existing runways, aprons, air navigation services, control towers, technical blocks etc. This information has been given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Of Civil Aviation General VK Singh (Retd) in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to Singh, AAI has undertaken developmental works at three airports namely Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports to the tune of Rs 30,000 crores under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Around Rs 36,000 crores have been planned for investment in the development of new greenfield airports across the country under PPP mode.

The government has accorded in-principle approval for setting up 21 greenfields airports across the country. So far, eight greenfield airports namely, Shirdi in Maharashtra, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala, Orvakal in Andhra Pradesh, Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh have been operationalised.

Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), also known as the 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)' Scheme, as of November 24, 2021, a total of 393 routes have commenced connecting 62 unserved and underserved airports, including two water aerodromes and six heliports.

The development of infrastructure projects is an ongoing process. The timeline for completion of an airport development project depends upon many factors, such as land acquisition by the concerned state government, receipt of mandatory clearances from various government entities and regulatory authorities, changes in traffic volumes, financial closure by the airport developer and disruptions due to man-made or natural causes. Most of the above-mentioned developmental projects are likely to be completed over the next five years.

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