71 New Airports to Transform India’s Skyline

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyothiraditya Scindia said on Sunday that 71 new airports are planned in the coming years in addition to the existing 149 airports in the country.

Addressing a function after performing Bhoomi pooja for the Rajahmundry airport new terminal buildings at Madhurapudi, 75 kms from here, he said the existing terminal was being extended at a cost of Rs 347 crore, keeping in view the future development requirement.

As against 74 airports existing as of 2014, their number was increased to 149, adding 75 new airports during the last nine and a half-year period.
In the coming years, the number of airports will increase to 220, adding 71 more.

The new terminal building planned at Madhurapudi airport will cover an area of 21,094 square feet and render services to 2100 passengers during rush hours.

”It has an annual capacity of handling 30 lakh passengers and provides 28 check-in counters, four arrival enclosures, and 600 parking spaces with a 5-star rating,” he added.

Jyothiraditya further said that at present, 18 services are operating from Madhurapudi airport, which will be enhanced to 25 in the coming days.

”Daily, 250 passengers travel from the airport, and the number will increase to 1400 soon. Bhogapuram, Delhi, and Mumbai airports are being developed as green field airports,” Scindia said.

BJP state president Daggupati Purandheswari has described the development of the new terminal at Madhurapudi as a historic event, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on the development of infrastructure in all airports so that all the areas receive a fillip in accelerated industrial development.
State minister for industries Gudivada Amarnath, Rajahmundry MP Margani Bharat, MLA Jakkampudi Raja, Aiports Authority Chairman Sanjay Kumar, East Godavari district Collector Madhavilatha, Joint Collector Tej Bharat, and Gopalapuram MLA Talari Venkatrao Former BJP state president Somu Veerraju was among those who attended.