Rajkot: Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat on 27 and 28 July 2023. He will inaugurate the Rajkot International Airport at Hirasar on 27th July 2023. Narendrabhai had himself performed bhoomipujan on 7th October 2017 at Hirasar village, near Chotila for the construction of this international airport, followed by signing of an MoU between the Airport Authority of India and the Civil Aviation Department of the Government of Gujarat for the construction of this new greenfield airport.

The Rajkot International Airport has been included under PM Gati Shakti Project. It has been built at a cost of ₹1,405 crores, approximately 30 km from Rajkot, near NH-27, at Hirasar village. The airport is spread over an area of 1025.50 hectares (2534 acres) out of which the Airport Authority of India has constructed the airport in an area of 1500 acres. It has a 3040 m (3.04 km) long and 45-meter-wide runway which can park 14 planes at any given point. Apron has been constructed in an area of 50,800 sq.m. The passenger terminal is spread over an area of 23,000 sq.m. It can manage 1280 travellers per hour, during peak hours. ‘C’-type planes can also operate from this new greenfield airport, with arrangements for ‘E’-type planes in the future. This will enable the people of Rajkot and Saurashtra to avail services of large-size planes like Airbus A-380, Boeing 747, and Boeing 777.

The airport is equipped with a solar power system, a green belt, and a rainwater harvesting system. The airport will have one parallel half taxi-way, a rapid exit taxi track, an interim terminal building, cargo and MRO/hangars.

The greenfield airport has been recently accorded the International Aeronautical Information Publication (A.I.P) tag. This tag is essential for the operation of aircrafts. The airport will be equipped with exclusive facilities, like – four passenger boarding bridges, three conveyor belts, and 8 check-in counters (another 12 check-in counters will be added in the future) with advanced firefighting and fire alarm systems.

Landscaping, car, taxi and bus parking facilities are built in the City Side Area spread over 524 acres in addition to the Air Traffic Controller (A.T.C), Interim Terminal Building, and Fire Station.

The airport’s gallery provides a glimpse of Gujarat’s rich heritage and traditions. The gallery is adorned with art of Ranjit Vilas Palace, Dandiya and folk dances of the state.

Rajkot is an important economic centre for Gujarat and India owing to its small-scale and heavy industries. The city is playing an important role in complex supply chains with a global perspective, which is expected to grow exponentially. Air connectivity to the international market will boost industrial growth, generating new employment opportunities. Apart from this, the new airport will come up with lots of commercial development. Being located on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, this airport will aim to reduce the time and cost related to logistics for multiple industries in the region. More importantly, the ceramic industry of Morbi and other industries of Jamnagar also depend on Rajkot for air connectivity. This new airport will boost travel logistics, hotel industry, restaurants, warehouse-cargo handling, clearing business, etc. and many more.

Greenfield airports refer to those that are built from ground zero. As part of the development process, greenfield airports often take environmental considerations into account, attempting to minimize their impact on the surroundings.