The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposal for the construction of the first phase of a greenfield airport at Dholera in Gujarat in 48 months at a cost of Rs 1,305 crore. The CCEA is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dholera airport will receive passenger and cargo traffic from the Dholera Special Investment Zone (DSIR) and is expected to become a major cargo hub serving the industrial sector, according to a press release from the Centre.
This airport will also cater to the surrounding area and will serve as the second airport for Ahmedabad.
“The project is being implemented by Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), a joint venture company comprising Airports Authority of India (AAI), Government of Gujarat (GOG) and National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT). in the ratio of 51:33:16,” it noted.
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Greenfield airport is located at an air distance of 80 kms from Ahmedabad airport. “The airport is planned for operation from the year 2025-26, and the initial passenger traffic, estimated at 3 lakh passengers per year, is expected to increase to 23 lakh over a period of 20 years,” it noted.
Annual cargo traffic is also projected to be 20,000 tonnes by the year 2025-26, which will increase to 2,73,000 tonnes over a period of 20 years.
With inputs from PTI