Dholera: Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu reviewed the ongoing construction and development of Dholera International Airport. During the review, the Minister announced that the overall construction work of the airport is around 80% complete and the government aims to make it operational by September or October later this year.

Accompanied by Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar, and key representatives of the Government of Gujarat and the Dholera International Airport Consortium, the Minister assessed the project’s progress and finalised the strategic roadmap for its completion.

Emphasising the national significance of the project, the Minister said Dholera International Airport is India’s first airport project to be seamlessly integrated with a manufacturing hub, a futuristic green city, and a semiconductor cluster.

He said, “Our primary objective is to complete this project as soon as possible and expedite its inauguration. The unprecedented level of cooperation and active participation of both the Central Government and the Government of Gujarat is making this project truly unique in India’s aviation landscape.”

Reviewing the physical progress at the site, the Minister said that despite initial challenges, hurdles had been successfully overcome through systematic planning and robust execution. He said around 80% of the overall construction work has been completed. Notably, 75% of the work on the state-of-the-art terminal building has been completed, while the ancillary structures, Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, primary runway, and taxiway are all complete.

To cater to the vast industrial ecosystem emerging at Dholera, the Minister highlighted that a dedicated 2,500-square-metre cargo terminal is being built. Additionally, a passenger terminal spread over 25,000 square metres, with a handling capacity of 2 million passengers annually, is under construction to ensure seamless passenger movement.

Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu further said, “Dholera is being designed as a model of multi-modal connectivity. Along with world-class air connectivity, the airport is linked to a premium six-lane national highway and a high-speed rail corridor. The Union Cabinet has recently approved ₹20,667 crore for the rail corridor project, and we have ensured that its entry point and station are located directly next to the airport terminal. A passenger travelling from Ahmedabad will be able to step directly from the high-speed train into the terminal.”

He said, “Whenever global or domestic companies want to invest in future technologies, whether in semiconductor manufacturing or green energy, their primary requirement is proximity to an airport. Dholera offers this competitive advantage. In particular, Tata’s upcoming semiconductor facility and Airbus’ defence partnership will directly benefit from our dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangars. These hangars will support MRO operations for India’s first indigenous military transport aircraft, the C-295.”

He further added, “In a major milestone for the civil aviation sector, we have finalised the MoU between Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer and Adani Aviation Systems. Dholera has been selected as the location for the final assembly line of India’s first civilian ‘Make in India’ aircraft, with the target of rolling out the first plane by 2028. This makes Dholera the ultimate destination for future investments in semiconductors, electronics, and aerospace.”

The Minister concluded the review by directing contractors and authorities to complete the remaining work by September. In parallel, the Ministry will work closely with the DGCA to secure the necessary airport licence over the next three months, with the aim of operationalising Dholera International Airport by September or October. DeshGujarat