Under 100 Words: A Compact Summary
Prime Minister Modi unveiled 15 airport projects worth Rs 9,800 crore, focusing on national development by 2047. This includes new terminals, increased capacities, and expansion plans for several airports across India (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled 15 airport projects amounting to Rs 9,800 crore. He emphasized that these inaugurations should not be viewed solely in the context of the upcoming general elections but rather as integral steps in the nation’s journey toward development by 2047.
- Speaking at a public rally in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Modi virtually inaugurated new terminal buildings for airports in Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Adampur.
- The total cost for developing these 12 new terminal buildings amounted to Rs 8,903 crore, providing a combined capacity to serve 61.5 million passengers annually (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- The Prime Minister also initiated the construction of new terminal buildings at Kadapa, Hubballi, and Belagavi Airports.
- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will oversee the development of these three terminals, with a total investment of Rs 908 crore (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- Upon completion, the combined passenger capacity of these airports is set to increase to 9.5 million passengers annually.
- During his speech, the PM remarked on the past practice of making announcements during election seasons without subsequent follow-ups. He emphasized the need to view these developments as part of an ongoing journey for national development, aiming to achieve a developed status by 2047.
- The PM highlighted the significance of bringing modern infrastructure to smaller cities like Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, and Shravasti, challenging the perception of these cities as “small and backward.”
- He emphasized the importance of extending modern amenities to smaller cities and promoting continuous urbanization as an opportunity for all (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- Among the inaugurated projects was the new terminal at Lucknow airport, managed by the Adani Group. The expanded terminal is expected to handle approximately 13 million passengers annually, tripling the capacity compared to the old terminal.
- The Prime Minister also inaugurated the expanded Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport, which can now accommodate 40 million passengers per annum, more than doubling its previous capacity of 17 million passengers per annum.
- Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of Delhi Airport, announced that the total passenger handling capacity has surpassed 100 million passengers per annum.
- The Terminal 1 area has expanded from 55,740 square meters to 206,950 square meters. Unlike before, the updated Terminal 1 now has 22 contact stands with aerobridges for passengers to board planes.
- The baggage handling capacity has increased to 6,000 bags per hour, almost doubling from its previous capacity (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- In the fiscal year 2023-24, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has operationalized terminal buildings at Chennai, Port Blair, Surat, and Tiruchirappalli airports.
- Additionally, new terminal buildings at Kanpur Airport, Rajkot International Airport, Tezu Airport, and Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya Dham were inaugurated in the current fiscal year (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- The government has laid the foundation stones for new terminal buildings in Datia, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Rajahmundry to meet future demands (PM Modi Inaugurates 15 Airport Projects).
- Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has expressed the government’s focus on increasing the number of airports and heliports in the country from around 150 to over 200 in the next five years.
- Notably, IndiGo and Air India placed the two largest global aircraft orders last year. In June 2023, IndiGo ordered 500 A320neo family planes from Airbus, while in February 2023, the Air India Group ordered 470 planes—250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.
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