Infrastructure
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Alamy)
The CEO of Adani Airports Ltd, Arun Bansal, announced plans for a third terminal at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad.
While Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India, and expansion work is currently underway for the existing T1 and T2 terminals, Bansal stated that Ahmedabad's passenger growth demands the addition of another terminal.
The CEO added that the existing two terminals currently have a capacity of one crore passengers per annum, and the expansion work will potentially increase this capacity to 1.6 crores. However, with this year's expected passenger traffic predicted to reach 1.3 crores, there is a clear need for a third terminal.
The airport has a single runway that is 3,505 metre (11,499 ft) long.
The proposed expansion of SVPIA is part of the Adani Group's ongoing efforts to enhance India's aviation infrastructure.
Adani Airports is undertaking extensive efforts for India's key airports, including the development of six airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangaluru under a public-private partnership.
Additionally, in December 2020, Adani Airports signed a memorandum of understanding and lease agreements with the Airports Authority of India for the operation, management, and development of Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram airports.
The expansion of SVPIA will also provide a much-needed boost to the aviation sector, which has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport's expansion will create job opportunities and provide a boost to the local economy at a time when it is most needed.