Gujarat plans 11 new airports

Focusing on intrastate air connectivity, the Gujarat government has decided to establish 11 new airports in Gujarat. New airports are planned at Dwarka, Ambaji, Palitana, Ankleshwar, Dahej, Morbi, Rajkot, Parsoli, Rajpipla and Dholavira. In addition, there is international airport to be set up in Dholera. On the status of 11 airports project, the government said that pre-feasibility study for Ambaji, Dwarka and Palitana have been handed over to the Airport Authority of India (AAI), New Delhi. Of the three, the Dwarka component has been completed. The government also added that the process for land acquisition has been initiated for Dwarka, Ambaji and Palitana airports. As of now, there are eight airports in Gujarat — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Kandla, Deesa and Keshod — under AAI’s administration. Deesa, Kandla and Keshod airports are non-operational. Three airports are with the Indian Air Force, which include Naliya in Kutch and Bhuj and Jamnagar airports. The airports at Mehsana, Amreli and Mandvi are with the state government, while Mundra and Mithapur are private airports.