Eight New Aviation Facilities to Launch Across India in Early 2025

India is set to inaugurate eight new aviation facilities in the first half of 2025, according to information from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The projects include expansions and upgrades at airports in Goa, Patna, Prayagraj, Jodhpur, Hirasar (Rajkot), Satna, Datia, and Thoothukudi.

Aviation ministry officials stated that the expansion projects in Prayagraj, Jodhpur, and Patna are expected to be completed by June 30, 2025. Goa’s Dabolim airport will see a new terminal operational by March, while permanent facilities at Hirasar airport are also set for completion before mid-year. Temporary operations have been ongoing at Hirasar since September 2023.

The new airport at Datia, Madhya Pradesh, aims to serve both Datia and nearby Jhansi. The project aligns with the government’s regional connectivity scheme, UDAN, and will begin operations with 19-seater aircraft. A similar operational model is planned for Satna airport, also under the UDAN initiative.

The upgraded terminal at Jodhpur airport will feature a 24,000-square-meter facility, capable of handling 2,500 passengers during peak hours and accommodating 3.5 million passengers annually. This project involved an investment of ₹480 crore.

In Tamil Nadu, the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) airport is being upgraded to accommodate larger aircraft, including A321 models capable of carrying approximately 200 passengers. The improvements will also enable the airport to handle international passenger traffic.

The development of these facilities comes amid projections of increased domestic air passenger traffic, which is expected to reach 300 million annually by 2030. According to government data, the number of airports in India has doubled since 2014, with a target of approximately 350 airports by 2047.

The new infrastructure projects aim to enhance regional connectivity and support the growing demand for air travel.