Ahmedabad's Second Airport Gears Up: AAI Awards Rs 333-Crore Contract for Terminal Building In Dholera

Ahmedabad-based Yashnand Engineers and Contractors has been awarded Rs 333 crore construction contract by the Dholera International Airport Company Ltd. (DIACL) for the engineering, procurement, and construction of Dholera Airport in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat.

The scope of the contract includes the construction of a new integrated passenger terminal building, ATC tower, cargo complex, and environmental support services (ESS) among others, with a construction deadline of 18 months.

It should be noted that the construction of the airport's supporting infrastructure, such as a 3200 m runway, taxiways, apron, and perimeter road, is actively in progress by Jodhpur-based Varaha Infra.

Earlier in June 2022, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for the development of Phase I of the new greenfield airport at Dholera at an estimated cost of Rs 1,305 crore, with a 48-month deadline.

The project is being implemented by Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), a joint venture company comprising Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Government of Gujarat (GoG), and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) holding equity in the ratio of 51:33:16.

The new greenfield airport at Dholera is situated at an aerial distance of 80 km from Ahmedabad airport.

Anticipated to commence operations by 2025-26, the new airport is projected to witness an initial annual passenger traffic of three lakh, and likely to grow to 23 lakh over a 20-year span.

Likewise, the annual cargo traffic is estimated to reach 20,000 tonnes by 2025-26, with a projected growth to 2,73,000 tonnes over the next two decades.

"Dholera Airport is to get passenger and cargo traffic from Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) and is expected to become a major cargo hub to serve the industrial region. This airport would cater to the nearby region and serve as a second airport to Ahmedabad,” a press note from the government noted.