New Delhi: Minister of State in the Ministry Of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh, (Retd) in a Lok Sabha informed, “Declaration of an airport as an International Airport depends upon the traffic potential and the demand from airlines for the operation of international flights, bilateral Air Services Agreements, besides provision of Ground Lighting facilities, Instrument Landing System, adequate runway length, Immigration, Health and Animal & Plant Quarantine services etc.”
In Madhya Pradesh, Indore Airport is a Custom airport having international operations while Bhopal airport is a Domestic airport with integrated infrastructure building to cater to international operations.
The major ongoing engineering infrastructure works in Madhya Pradesh are:
1. Bhopal Airport: Construction of ATC Tower cum Technical Block and other associated works, awarded in April 2021 with an approved cost of Rs.41.16 crore and projected date of completion in December 2022.
2. Upgradation of Jabalpur Airport at an approved cost of Rs. 412.24 crore, which includes the following works:
i. Construction of New Terminal Building: Awarded in June 2019 with a projected date of completion in March 2023.
ii. Extension of Runway, Construction of New Apron, Taxi Track & Isolation Bay i/c Link Taxi, GSE Area, Perimeter Road & allied works: Awarded in March 2018 with a projected date of completion in July 2022.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up the work for “Expansion of Civil Enclave at Gwalior Airport” for an approved cost of Rs.446.12 crore. It includes the construction of the New Terminal Building of an area of 20,000 sqm to handle 1400 peak hour passengers, ancillary Buildings, Car Parking, City Side Development & other associated works at Gwalior Airport.
