New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up developmental projects worth around Rs 25,000 crores over the next five years for expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, expansion or strengthening of existing runways, aprons, air navigation services, control towers, technical blocks, etc.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. He said that three public private partnership (PPP) airports at Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru have undertaken developmental projects to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore by 2025. Around Rs 36,000 crore has been planned for investment in the development of new greenfield airports across the country under PPP mode.

The Minister said the Government of India has accorded 'in-principle' approval for setting up of 21 greenfield airports across the country. So far, eight greenfield airports, namely, Shirdi in Maharashtra, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala, Orvakal in Andhra Pradesh, Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh have been operationalized.

Development of infrastructure projects is an ongoing process. The timeline for completion of an airport development project depends upon many factors, such as, land acquisition by the concerned State Government, receipt of mandatory clearances from various government entities and regulatory authorities, changes in traffic volumes, financial closure by the airport developer and disruptions due to man-made or natural causes. Most of the above-mentioned developmental projects are likely to be completed over the next five years, he added. /BI/