Domestic passenger traffic recorded 14.5% CAGR from FY2014-15 to FY2019-20
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport developers have taken up the development of new and existing airports with a projected capital expenditure of Rs.98,000 crore in the next five years,
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh, (Retd) gave this update in a written reply to Lok Sabha on 2 Feb 2023.
Work scope includes expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals and strengthening of runways, among other activities.
Under Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008 of the Government, ‘in principle’ approval has been accorded for setting up of 21 Greenfield airports across the country including Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
So far, 10 Greenfield airports have already been operationalized, he said.
The upgradation and modernisation of brownfield airports, including those in Maharashtra, is a continuous process. AAI and other airport operators are undertaking such work 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 etc.
AAI has also undertaken construction of residential quarters at Juhu Airport, construction of New domestic Terminal Building, ATC tower cum Technical Block cum Fire Station and associated work at Kolhapur Airport and construction of a New Integrated Terminal Building & associated works at Pune Airport.
Elaborating, the Minister said, “India has witnessed double-digit Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.5% in terms of domestic passenger traffic during the period 2014-15 to 2019-20.
“During 2020-21 and 2021-22, there was a dip in domestic air traffic due to impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
“The domestic air traffic has again picked up pace during the current financial year i.e. 2022-23 and is expected to reach around 97% of the pre-covid level.” fiinews.com
