India is expected to have 34 mega airports by 2047, said Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar at the Aviation India 2025 event on Wednesday. The country’s total operational airports as of October stood at 164, up from 74 in 2024.
Currently, Delhi International Airport is one of the mega airports in the world, which has the capacity to handle 100 million passengers annually.
A massive infrastructure push, which includes increasing manpower and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services is required to handle an estimated 1,600 aircraft and 34 mega airports, he said.
Under the ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ mission, the government’s aim is to increase the number of airports to 350-400, including revamped airstrips. Kumar also outlined that 110 airstrips have been identified which are suitable for development and additional 200 airstrips are undergoing suitability assessment.
“We are also trying to have new twin airports. We are trying to achieve this vision,” said Kumar reflecting on the development of a new greenfield and second airport in Delhi National Capital Region and in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Kumar in his presentation at the event showcased that Purandar in Pune, Kota in Rajasthan , Parandur in Chennai, Great Nicobar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puri in Odisha, Dholera in Gujarat, Doloo in Assam are among the sites which have been identified for development of new greenfield airports.