Parliament Question: Expansion of Airport Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3181 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6th August 2026 ) EXPANSION OF AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

3181. SMT RACHNA BANERJEE Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the adequacy of airport infrastructure and passenger handling capacity at major airports in the country in view of the increasing air traffic and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the airports where expansion and modernisation projects are currently under implementation, State-wise;

(c) the total funds allocated and utilised for such projects during the last three years; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely completion of these projects and to improve passenger amenities and safety standards? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a): Airport infrastructure, including passenger terminals, runways, aprons, cargo facilities and other airside infrastructure, is developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators based on traffic growth, operational requirements, airline demand, financial viability and techno- economic considerations. Expansion and modernisation projects undertaken at airports across the country have enhanced the total passenger-handling capacity to over 580 million passengers per annum (MPPA), while passenger traffic handled during 2025-26 was about 420 million.

(b): AAI has undertaken various upgradation and development works, including construction of new terminal buildings, aprons, Runway End Safety Areas

(RESA), extension/re-surfacing of runways, construction/strengthening of Rapid Exit Taxiways (RETs) and Link Taxi Tracks, at several airports across the country. The major infrastructure projects include Kadapa, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Darbhanga in Bihar, Keshod in Gujarat,Hisar in Haryana, Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir, Belagavi and Hubballi in Karnataka, Calicut in Kerala, Leh in Ladakh, Imphal in Manipur, Kota and Udaipur in Rajasthan, Pakyong in Sikkim, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Agra and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Bagdogra and Kolkata in West Bengal.

(c): The capital expenditure (CAPEX) for the development of airport infrastructure is generally incurred by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private airport operators/developers from their own resources. CAPEX expenditure incurred by AAI and Private Airport Operators/Developers during the last three years has been approximately Rs. 19260 crore (FY 2023-24), Rs.

19317 crore (FY 2024-25) and Rs. 17840 Crore (FY 2025-26).

(d): To ensure timely implementation of airport expansion and modernisation projects, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and AAI conduct regular project reviews in coordination with project authorities and executing agencies.;

Passenger experience is enhanced through initiatives such as DigiYatra, e-gates, in-line baggage screening, Common Use Terminal Equipment

(CUTE)/Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) check-in systems and Automatic Tray Retrieval Systems (ATRS) at security checkpoints. Further, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) maintains a robust safety oversight mechanism through routine surveillance, spot checks, regulatory audits and special audits to ensure compliance with the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs).

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