India is under-prepared for major airport capacity challenge and will need a plan for massive investment of up to $40 billion (Rs 2.2 lakh crore) in airport development by 2025, including the construction of up to 50 Greenfield airports, aviation consultancy firm, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), has said in a research report.
"Indian aviation is set for transformational growth," said Kapil Kaul, CEO, South Asia, Capa. "Capa projections show airport passenger traffic growing from 143 million in 2010-11 to 452 million by 2020-21."
“Over the same period the scheduled airline fleet is expected to grow from 430 to 1,030, while general aviation could see even faster growth from 750 to over 2,000,” the report said.
The incremental growth in Indian domestic airport passengers in the last decade was striking, said Capa. “The increase between 2001 and 2011 was three times the growth that had been achieved in the previous 50 years. And with strong growth expected to continue the task ahead is enormous,” it said.
“India may require construction of 40-50 greenfield airports by 2025. Combined with upgrades to airspace infrastructure and ground transportation, expenditure could reach $70-80 billion (around R4 lakh crore),” it said.
“India may require construction of 40-50 greenfield airports by 2025. Combined with upgrades to airspace infrastructure and ground transportation, expenditure could reach $70-80 billion (around R4 lakh crore),” it said.