Govt to expand airport network to 350 by 2047

30 Sep 2024 CW Team

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu remarked that the government is focused on improving connectivity to ‘unserved’ and ‘underserved’ airports, with the aim of promoting India’s lesser-known tourist destinations. While addressing the audience on World Tourism Day, the minister highlighted the rise in foreign travellers to India, noting that 35% of them are tourists, which emphasises the vast potential within the tourism sector.

Naidu outlined the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s long-term vision under the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' initiative, which includes plans to more than double the current number of airports. The goal is to increase the total from 157 to 350 by the year 2047. He further mentioned that under the government’s regional connectivity scheme, UDAN, 500 routes have already been made operational, with efforts ongoing to strengthen connectivity in remote and rural areas.

The minister also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, where the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of economic modernisation, infrastructure development, and strategic reforms. Modi’s vision, encapsulated in the term 'Viksit Bharat 2047,' seeks to transform India into a globally competitive and developed nation by 2047, a goal he believes can be achieved through collective effort and determination.

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