The construction of an airport is one of the most important facilitators for the growth of an industrial region and is predicted to have a strong economic multiplier effect. A greenfield airport is one that is built from scratch on a new (undeveloped) site. It means a project that does not have any constraints imposed by prior work. Such airports are constructed to support the projected requirements of the traffic of the existing airport.
The Indian Civil Aviation market is witnessing a significant transformation with the passenger traffic expected to double by 2030. India is expected to overtake China and the United States as the world’s third-largest air passenger market in the next 10 years, by 2030, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
During the last 3 years, the following six Greenfield airports have become operational: Pakyong Airport in Sikkim (2018), Kannur Airport in Kerala (2018), Kalaburagi Airport in Karnataka (2019), Kurnool Airport in Andhra Pradesh (2021), Sindhudurg Airport in Maharashtra (2021) and Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh (2021). In addition, during the last 3 years, construction of Greenfield airports at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Mopa in Goa, Hirasar in Rajkot, Jewar (Noida) in Uttar Pradesh, and Hollongi in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh are been undertaken.
21 Greenfield Airports to be set up across the country
The Indian government has formulated a Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008 which provides guidelines, procedure and conditions for establishment of new Greenfield Airports in the country. Under the Greenfield Airports Policy, Government has so far accorded ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country namely Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Bijapur, Hassan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Datia (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh, Pakyong in Sikkim, Durgapur in West Bengal, Kannur in Kerala and Hollongi (Itanagar) in Arunachal Pradesh.
Need:
The Indian government has been attempting to increase the number of airports to accommodate the growing aviation traffic. India had 153 operating airports as of 2020. By FY40, the country plans to increase the number of operating airports to 190-200. There is a renewed push for greenfield airports in the country, with a focus on catering to large passenger traffic and linking hitherto untapped areas.
The operationalisation of these airports would pin a vast territory on the national aviation map across the country, especially the north east providing a strong aerial connectivity. The development will have a multiplier effect on the hospitality, tourism and local economy. The long-term implications include development of the industrial infrastructure, and a spur in manufacturing and export
