The government will soon construct 16 new airports in five central Indian states. Addressing the virtually conducted PM-Gati Shakti Conference for the Central Zone, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said that 16 new airports will come up in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa; Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur; nine airports will be built in Uttar Pradesh; one in Rajasthan; and two in Maharashtra. Minister urged the need for seamless coordination between the state and the central government for the realization of the plans under the PM-Gati Shakti scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan on August 15, 2021, primarily to develop multi-modal connectivity across the nation through integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
According to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the PM-Gati Shakti scheme’s success will help India achieve its vision of a USD 5 trillion economy. “Gati Shakti initiative will not only help in bringing more investment in the country but also help create great employment,” he said. According to Scindia, the countries that have focused on developing the infrastructure in the last 70 years, including South Asian Countries, have now become developed countries.
PM Gati Shakti initiative cost Rs 100 Lakh crore focuses on transforming India into a global superpower. “16 ministries of the central government will work in close coordination to make this possible. The scheme envisages multi-modal connectivity, economic zones, industrial zones, agriculture zones, cargo zones and smart cities, which will boost production, transport, demand and employment in the country,” he said.
PM has approved the construction of 21 greenfield airports in India: President
Meanwhile, in a speech delivered, President Ram Nath Kovind revealed that the Modi government has approved the construction of 21 greenfield airports in the country. India's biggest airport will come up at Gautam Buddha Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
Accordingly, airports will be constructed across places such as Mopa (Goa), Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Bijapur, Hassan and Shimoga in Karnataka. The greenfield airports will also come up in Datia (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram, and Oravackal in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Hollongi (Itanagar) in Arunachal Pradesh.
President was addressing the Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session.
