Civil aviation ministry mapping airstrips nationwide for development

06 Jun 2024 CW Team

With greenfield airports emerging in major cities across the country, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is now concentrating on making hundreds of airstrips operational to enhance connectivity to Tier II and Tier III cities.

During his inaugural address at the 'CAPA India Aviation Summit 2024' on Wednesday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation Secretary, Vumlunmang Vualnam, explained that the government is currently mapping 453 existing airstrips and brainstorming ways to make them operational.

Vualnam mentioned that although 157 airports are already functional and the ministry takes pride in them, they have begun evaluating the full list of 453 airstrips in the country.

While India currently operates around 157 airports, predominantly managed by the Airports Authority of India, numerous airstrips have remained inactive for decades, with some last used around the time of the country's independence. Vualnam pointed out that the ministry is assessing which airstrips need priority development within a 100 km radius and which ones serve larger populations or industrial development areas.

He also noted that they are considering developing these airstrips as brownfield projects and exploring the possibility of expanding the joint user concept for defence airfields.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..