To help tide over the fast growing demand of air cargo service and the mushrooming passengers numbers in India, Airports Authority of India launched a big program of modernisation of 150 small airports and airstrips scattered across the length and breadth of the country. This report says Mint that under the project would further enhance country’s aviation infrastructural development along with improving passenger and cargo traffics. In view of efficiency and sustainability, these less used airports would be converted into essential centers of air transport by the modernization plan.
The Need for Airport Modernisation in India
India’s aviation industry has experienced growth at a very brisk pace in recent times. Rising demands for air cargo services posed by industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to textiles, electronics, and perishables have created the imperative of developing airport infrastructure in the country. With rising tensions between countries blocking supply chains worldwide and the emergence of new disruptions in traditional trade routes, it is air cargo that is coming to be a vital lifeline for faster delivery.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) identified 150 small airports that were most likely to get overhauling into these airports to come up with the needed infrastructure. The project was undertaken with the intention of taking advantage of the existing aviation infrastructure, which has been underutilized. More than 400 choices in India, airports have been shortlisted and the plan is a part of the Indian Government initiative aimed at strengthening connectivity improves economic activity and supporting logistics in India.
Which Airports Come Under The Modernisation Plan?
Modernisation is to be done on as many as 150 airports in India. Key airports under the modernization include
- Aizawl
- Kota
- Muzaffarpur
- Satna
- Ziro
- Jalgaon
- Asansol
- Malda
- Jharsuguda
- Khandwa
- Panna
- Raxaul
- Vellore
- Tezu
- Agatti
- Akola
- Belgaum
- Cooch-Behar
- Gaya
- Gorakhpur
- Hubli
- Kolhapur
- Kandla
- Kullu
- Pantnagar
- Rajahmundry
These airports are located in small towns and rural areas where full development of aviation infrastructure has not been accomplished. Modernization will breathe new life into otherwise underutilized facilities, which is important for the changing air transport network of India.
Air Cargo and Passenger Traffic as Focus Areas for Modernization
Modernization is most likely to cover two areas of major concerns: air cargo capabilities and passenger services.
- Air Cargo Facilities Improvement
Air cargo has come to be one of the necessities in the transportation of commodities that require rapid delivery turnaround. A large percentage of pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics, and perishables are transported by air so that delivery can be made well within time. This modernization will elevate cargo-handling structures which include cold storage units, mechanised transport systems, and multimodal transport links that bring the airports in touch with other transport networks. - Passenger service development
The growing demand for air travel in the country domestically and internationally also demands higher passenger amenities at the airports. Modernization includes building longer runways to take in bigger aircraft, improved passenger terminals, and better facilities as a whole. These shall all be in accordance with ICAO standards so that such airports will have their safety and service requirements at par with international standards.
Key Infrastructure Upgrades Planned
Much upgrading of critical infrastructure will be involved in a process of modernizing airports. Most of these would be to do with efficiency so that they might now accommodate a broad range of services to meet logistic and travel industry needs:
- Longer runways: To accommodate large aircraft and sustain increased passenger and cargo flights.
- Passenger Amenities: New terminals and facilities, as envisioned, are bound to be more pleasant compared to waiting areas, food courts, lounges, services mainly to the travelling public.
- Digital Technologies: Also, the several latest digital innovations to be adopted will make airport procedures more accessible thus smooth check-in, luggage, and pass-through of passengers.
- Cold Storage Facilities: The perishable shipment will not deteriorate, hence losing quality and freshness, because there will be in place cold storage units for the transportation of such products.
- Cargo Terminals and Freight Cities: Dedicated cargo terminals and passenger freighthubs in satellite cities will add to India’s air cargo capacity further strengthening the global supply chain ranking of the country.
- Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems: Cargo handling efficiency should be improved significantly to realize accelerated cargo handling, reducing delay times, and increasing throughput.
Electronic Data Interchange for Process Streamlining
The most notable area of this project is the implementation of EDI systems. All stakeholders in the trade and logistics sector will have the ability to exchange documents in a standardized manner electronically through EDI. It will eliminate inefficiencies, cut down on paper work, and speed up operations at the airports. India’s airports will be in a position to meet the increasing demand for swift and reliable cargo services by making processes digital.
Conclusion: Digitalizing India’s Aviation Landscape
The plans to upgrade 150 small airports by Airports Authority of India promise a sea change in the Indian air transport infrastructure. The project has scope in air cargo capabilities enhancement, giving much into supporting the growth of the aviation sector of India. It will not only be quicker and more effective services but enhanced connectivity and logistics and, therefore, regional economic growth.
The modernisation plan is supposed to increase India’s level of performance in international air cargo and passenger services, thus raising the country’s overall competitiveness in the aviation industry. The coming years will be seen as a quantum leap for India in terms of air transport, courtesy of the visionary initiatives of the Airports Authority of India.
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