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The Centre is poised to approve the construction of three new greenfield airports in Parandur (Tamil Nadu), Kota (Rajasthan), and Puri (Odisha), sources told businessline. These projects are in the second stage of the Greenfield Airports (GFA) policy, awaiting an ‘in-principle’ nod to proceed with land acquisition and other preliminary activities. According to sources, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is collaborating with agencies like the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Home and Defence ministries to finalize the approvals. “Greenfield airport projects are vital for enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth. We are optimistic about securing approvals soon,” a source said. The Parandur airport is set to become Chennai’s second airport, bolstering infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. The proposed Puri airport will serve the pilgrimage town and nearby Bhubaneswar, while the Kota facility will replace the city’s existing airport in Rajasthan. In recent years, MoCA has granted ‘site clearance’ for seven airports, including Parandur, Kota, Puri, and others in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), Kottayam (Kerala), Doloo (Assam), and Raichur (Karnataka). India’s GFA policy requires a two-stage approval process, beginning with ‘site clearance’ and followed by an ‘in-principle’ approval, which considers detailed project reports and feasibility studies. State governments propose airport locations, which are then evaluated by agencies, including the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Since the policy’s inception, the Centre has approved 21 greenfield airport projects, with 12 already operational, including facilities in Mopa (Goa), Jewar (Noida), and Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh). Presently, India boasts 159 operational airports, combining brownfield and greenfield developments. The addition of these new airports is expected to further boost regional connectivity and economic opportunities across the country. |
