India aims to double the number of airports to 350 by 2047: Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu
- IBEF
- August 26, 2025
Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, on August 25, 2025, said the central government aims to develop 350 airports by 2047 as part of its long-term vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Speaking at the Eastern Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation, he noted that India currently has 162 airports and intends more than to double this number over the next two decades. He emphasised that civil aviation is one of the fastest-growing sectors in India, with significant support being extended to states to strengthen aviation infrastructure. He highlighted that in the last 11 years, 88 new airports have been established, including in tier two and tier three cities, underscoring the sector’s rapid expansion.
He announced new projects in Odisha, including a terminal building at Bhubaneswar airport and an in-principle approval for an airport in Puri, which is expected to be completed within two years of construction. He also pointed out that 11 airstrips in Odisha can potentially be upgraded to airports and mentioned support for Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) to meet rising pilot demand. On connectivity, he said seaplane operations will soon begin in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, while heliports will be developed in hilly and Northeast regions where airports are not viable.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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