The year 2024 is poised to witness the inauguration of several transformative mega infrastructure projects in India, bringing about significant changes in urban infrastructure. Noteworthy among them is the Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport), scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2024. Spearheaded by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, it is set to become the largest airport in Asia.
Another significant project is the Purandar Airport in Pune, officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhaje Raje International Airport. This Rs 6,000 crores project is expected to commence operations in February 2024, alleviating the traffic load on Lohegaon Airport.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, currently under development and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Ltd, aims to address capacity constraints in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. With a Phase 1 capacity of 20 million passengers annually, it plans to reach a total capacity of 60 million passengers and 800,000 tons of cargo handling per annum. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 17,000 crores.
The Union government's Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, has given 'in-principle' approval for 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. As of now, 12 of these airports have been operationalized, including Durgapur, Shirdi, Sindhudurg, Pakyong, Kannur, Kalaburagi, Oravakal, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa, Shivamogga, and Rajkot.
Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, over Rs 91,000 crores in total expenditure are anticipated between FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) expected to incur a cost of around Rs 25,000 crores. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged operational and upcoming airports to strive for Carbon Neutrality & Net Zero, encouraging the use of green energy. Currently, 66 airports across the country operate with 100% green energy, aligning with broader sustainability goals.
(With Agency Inputs)
ALSO READ | India Sets Sights Beyond 5G, Leaping Forward to Explore 6G Communications
ALSO READ | India's Metro Network Set to Surpass the US, Becoming the World's Second Largest
