New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal for development of phase one of New Greenfield Airport at Dholera, Gujarat, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,305 crore, to be completed within 48 months, IANS reported. “The Union Cabinet approves development of phase I of new greenfield airport at Dholera, the news agency quoted Union Minister Anurag Thakur as saying at a press conference about the Cabinet’s decision.
“The Dholera International Airport Company Ltd will construct it and 1,501 hectares of land (will be) made available for this,” added Thakur.
The Union Minister said the “initial passenger traffic is estimated to be three lakh passengers per annum, expected to grow to 23 lakh over a period of 20 years”.
“The annual cargo traffic is also estimated from the year 2025-26 at 20,000 tonne, which would increase to 2.73 lakh tonne over a period of 20 years,” Thakur added.
ALSO READ: CCI Approves Acquisition Of AirAsia India's Entire Shareholding By Air India
This project is being implemented by the Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), a joint venture company comprising the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Government of Gujarat and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) holding equity in the ratio of 51:33:16.
Dholera Airport, which is to get passenger and cargo traffic from Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), is expected to become a major cargo hub to serve the industrial region.
This airport will also cater to the nearby region and serve as a second airport to Gujarat capital Ahmedabad.
Situated at an aerial distance of 80 kilometres from the Ahmedabad Airport, the New Greenfield Airport at Dholera is planned for operationalisation from the year 2025-26.