The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA aim to secure licensing within three months, enabling Dholera airport’s launch by October.
With the upcoming Dholera International Airport’s significance extending beyond Gujarat to potentially becoming a landmark project of immense strategic importance for India, the Centre is committed to ensuring its early completion, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu has assured.
“Our primary objective is to complete this project as swiftly as possible and fast‑track its inauguration. The unprecedented level of collaboration and active involvement of both the Central Government and the Government of Gujarat is making this a truly unique, standout project in India’s aviation landscape,” Naidu said on Tuesday.
He made these remarks during a comprehensive on‑site review of the airport project, accompanied by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and senior representatives from the Government of Gujarat and the Dholera International Airport consortium.
Outlining a strict timeline, Naidu asked contractors and authorities to target completion of work by September. In parallel, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will work closely with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to secure licensing within three months, aiming to operationalise the airport by October.
Naidu noted that this is the first airport project in India to be seamlessly integrated with a manufacturing hub, a futuristic green city, and a semiconductor cluster. Despite early challenges, systematic planning and robust execution have ensured steady progress, with nearly 80 per cent of overall construction completed. The terminal building is 75 per cent finished, while ancillary structures, the air traffic control tower, the primary runway, and the taxiway have reached full completion.
To cater to Dholera’s industrial ecosystem, a dedicated 2,500‑square‑metre cargo terminal is being built alongside a 25,000‑square‑metre passenger terminal with an annual handling capacity of 2 million passengers.
Naidu emphasised that the airport is being designed as a model of multi‑modal connectivity. “Alongside world‑class air connectivity, the airport is linked to a premium six‑lane national highway and a high‑speed rail corridor. In fact, the Central Cabinet recently sanctioned ₹206.67 billion for the rail corridor project, and we have ensured that its entry point and station will be positioned directly adjacent to the airport terminal. A passenger travelling from Ahmedabad will be able to disembark from the high‑speed train directly at the terminal.”
Advantage Aerotropolis
Naidu urged that airports be developed as engines of economic activity, with Dholera designed as an aerotropolis. He highlighted that global and domestic investors in semiconductors and green energy seek proximity to airports, and Dholera offers this competitive advantage. “Notably, Tata’s upcoming semiconductor facility and Airbus’s defence partnerships will benefit directly from our specialised maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hangars on‑site. These hangars will support the MRO operations of India’s first indigenous military transport aircraft, the C‑295.”
He termed the MoU between Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and Adani Aviation Systems for manufacturing the Embraer E15 regional jet a landmark deal. “Dholera has been chosen as the location for the final assembly line for India’s first civilian Make in India aircraft, with a target to roll out the first plane by 2028. This makes Dholera the ultimate destination for future investments in semiconductors, electronics, and aerospace.”
The Dholera airport project was first envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister as part of a futuristic city, manufacturing hub, and world‑class airport. A joint venture was subsequently formed between the AAI, the Government of Gujarat, and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).