The upgrade of Jabalpur airport will result in the new terminal building getting equipped with world-class passenger facilities and the capacity to handle 500 passengers during peak hours. As an important tourism and business centre in central India, the town of Jabalpur is witnessing a steady increase in passenger traffic. The airport is now being upgraded to provide better services to the air travellers of the region. The upgrade includes construction of a new terminal building, air traffic control (ATC) tower and technical block, a Category-VII fire station, other ancillary buildings, runway extension and other associated works. The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has handed over 468.43 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for development work in 2015, with the total land area now accounting for 775 acres. Spread over an area of 115,180 sq. ft, the terminal building will have three aerobridges, an advanced baggage screening system, a modern food court in the landscaped area and a well-planned car parking for more than 250 cars and buses. The proposed terminal building will welcome passengers with glimpses of vibrant paintings by the region’s Gond tribe, local handicrafts and murals.
The new building will be built with eco-friendly sustainable material and equipped with a solar plant and energy-efficient equipment. An efficient solid waste management system, reuse of treated water for horticulture and a rainwater harvesting system with a sustainable urban drainage system are among the few highlights of a greener Jabalpur airport.
Apart from the construction of a new terminal building, the airport upgrade cost of Rs 4.12 billion also include a runway extension to make it suitable for the operation of larger aircraft like the Airbus 320.
The project is likely to be completed by December 2021 and the new terminal building is likely to be commissioned by March 2022.
Gateway to the tourist attractions like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, and the marble cliffs of Bedhaghat on the River Narmada and the nearby waterfalls, the airport serves the whole of eastern Madhya Pradesh, especially the Mahakaushal region. The upgraded airport is expected to play a pivotal role in the development of Jabalpur city and will boost the growing tourism industry in the region.