New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a proposal of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop a Greenfield Airport at Kota-Bundi in Rajasthan. The project, estimated to cost Rs 1,507 crore, is expected to boost connectivity in the region.
The Rajasthan government has already handed over 440.06 hectares of land to AAI for the project, which will be capable of handling A-321 type aircraft.
Capacity to handle 2 million passengers annually
The planned facility includes a 20,000 sqm terminal building with the capacity to handle 1,000 passengers during peak hours and an annual traffic of up to 2 million. The airport will feature a 3,200 m x 45 m runway (11/29), an apron with seven parking bays, two link taxiways, an ATC-cum-technical block, a fire station, a car park, and allied infrastructure.
At present, Kota has a small airport operated by AAI, with a 1,220 m x 38 m runway (08/26) suitable only for Code ‘B’ aircraft such as the Dornier 228. Its 400 sqm terminal can accommodate just 50 passengers at peak hours. The facility cannot be upgraded for commercial operations due to land constraints and dense urbanisation around it.
Significance of new airport for Kota
Known as the industrial capital of Rajasthan and the country’s coaching hub for competitive exams, Kota is projected to witness a rapid rise in passenger traffic. The new airport is expected to serve as critical infrastructure, meeting the region’s growing economic and educational needs.
