Connectivity to the temple town of Dwarka, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, is set for a major boost with land finalised for a new airport. The Devbhumi Dwarka district administration has identified around 300 hectares near Vasai village, about 12 km from Dwarka, for the project.

Officials confirmed that about 45 per cent of the land, nearly 130 hectares, is already government-owned, while the rest belongs to private farmers and landholders. The collector’s office is preparing to initiate acquisition under the state policy, with a formal announcement expected soon.

This is the third site identified for the project, after earlier proposals were rejected following negative feasibility assessments by the civil aviation department. Given Dwarka’s sensitive coastal location with key defence installations, authorities are proceeding with caution. Once acquisition is completed, the land will be handed over to the state civil aviation department for development in coordination with the Centre, subject to regulatory clearances.

The airport is expected to reduce travel time for pilgrims and tourists, who currently rely on lengthy train journeys of around eight hours from Ahmedabad and 17 hours from Mumbai. It is also likely to serve strategic requirements of the Air Force during emergencies.

Tourist footfall in Dwarka has already been boosted by the recently inaugurated Sudarshan Setu bridge connecting Beyt Dwarka to the mainland, along with growing interest in Shivrajpur’s Blue Flag-certified beach. Authorities believe the proposed airport will further strengthen connectivity, benefitting nearby attractions such as the Marine National Park and coastal biodiversity hotspots in Devbhumi Dwarka and adjoining Jamnagar.

Meanwhile, farmers in Vasai village have voiced opposition to the use of their agricultural land for the project, even as real estate activity in the area has begun to pick up. Land prices are anticipated to rise following news of the proposed airport.

News source: Desh Gujarat