Executive Summary:
As of July 31, 2025, India has 162 operational airports. The Government of India's Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, facilitates the development of new airports, with 24 Greenfield Airports having received "In-Principle" approval. The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) aims to enhance regional air connectivity. Expansion and modernization of Chennai Airport are underway, with full completion expected by June 2026.
Key Points / Main Content:
Operational Airports:
* There are currently 162 operational airports in India.
* A state-wise list of these airports is available in Annexure.
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy:
* The GFA Policy, 2008, supports the development of new airports.
* "In-Principle" approval has been granted for 24 Greenfield Airports across the country.
* 12 Greenfield airports have been operationalized so far, with 7 operationalized in the last five years.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN):
* Launched on October 21, 2016, to improve regional air connectivity.
* Four airports in Tamil Nadu (Salem, Vellore, Neyveli, and Tanjore) were identified for RCS flight development, with Salem already operational.
* Rs. 26.43 crore has been spent on the development of Neyveli Airport under RCS-UDAN.
Chennai Airport Expansion:
* Expansion and modernization are being carried out in two phases, with a total cost of Rs. 2467 crore.
* Phase I, which includes a New Integrated Terminal Building, is operational since July 8, 2023, increasing capacity to 30 MPPA.
* Phase II involves the development of Terminal 3, further increasing capacity to 35 MPPA, and is projected for completion in June 2026.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing airport operations, development, and expansion projects.
* Action Required: Continue implementing policies and schemes like GFA and RCS-UDAN, and monitor the progress of airport expansion projects.
Airport Authority of India (AAI):
* Impact: Involved in the expansion and modernization of existing airports, such as Chennai Airport.
* Action Required: Ensure timely completion of Chennai Airport expansion and modernization project, with Phase II expected by June 2026.
Passengers:
* Impact: Will benefit from increased airport capacity, improved connectivity, and affordable air travel.
* Action Required: Utilize enhanced facilities and services at expanded airports and participate in the RCS-UDAN scheme.
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for facilitating the development and operation of airports within their respective states.
* Action Required: Support the implementation of GFA Policy and RCS-UDAN, and coordinate with central authorities for airport development projects.
Airport Developers:
* Impact: Involved in the construction and operationalization of Greenfield Airports.
* Action Required: Adhere to GFA Policy guidelines and ensure timely completion of airport projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
UDAN scheme: Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) is a regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India
Neyveli Airport in Tamil Nadu: An airport located in Tamil Nadu, India, for which funds were sanctioned to make it operational under the UDAN scheme.
Chennai Airport in Tamil Nadu: A major international airport located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, undergoing expansion and upgradation.
Greenfield Airports GFA Policy, 2008: A policy formulated by the Government of India for the development of new airports (Greenfield airports) in the country.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where several airports are mentioned for development and operation of RCS flights.
Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik RCS-UDAN: A scheme launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1870
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31st July 2025 )
OPERATIONAL AIRPORTS
1870. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the total number of airports along with the number
of operational airports in the country, State-wise;
(b) the details and the number of airports constructed during the
last five years;
(c) the number of airports proposed to be constructed or made
operational in the country, State-wise, especially in Tamil Nadu;
(d) the details of the funds sanctioned for making Neyveli Airport in
Tamil Nadu operational under the UDAN scheme; and
(e) the details of expansion and upgradation of Chennai Airport
along with the expected date of completion?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): At present, there are 162 operational airports in the country.
The State-wise list of operational airports is at Annexure.;;
(b) & (c): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield
Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of Greenfield airports in
the country. As per this policy, GoI has accorded "In-Principle''
approval for setting up of 24 Greenfield Airports across the country,
namely, Puri in Odisha, Parandur in Tamil Nadu, Kota in Rajashtan,
Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra,
Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga in Karnataka,
Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar)
in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Rajkot (Hirasar) in Gujarat, Karaikal inPuducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Oravakal (Kurnool) in
Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim,
Kannur in Kerala and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.;
Out of these, 12 Greenfield airports have been operationalised so
far. Seven of these airports namely, Mopa in Goa, Sindhudurg in
Maharashtra, Shivamogga in Karnataka, Kushinagar in Uttar
Pradesh, Rajkot (Hirasar) in Gujarat, Oravakal (Kurnool) in Andhra
Pradesh and Itanagar (Hollongi) in Arunachal Pradesh have been
operationalised during last five years.
In addition, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) launched Regional
Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) on
21.10.2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and
underserved airports in the country and make air travel affordable
to the masses.;
In the state of Tamil Nadu, four airports, namely Salem, Vellore,
Neyveli and Tanjore have been identified for the development and
operation of RCS flights under the Scheme, of which Salem airport
has been operationalised.
;
(d): For the development of Neyveli Airport in Tamil Nadu, a total
expenditure of Rs. 26.43 crore has been incurred under the Regional
Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) so
far.;
;
(e): AAI has undertaken the expansion and modernization of Chennai
Airport in two phases at a total cost of Rs. 2467 crore. Under Phase-
I, a New Integrated Terminal Building has been constructed,
increasing the airport's passenger handling capacity from 23 Million
Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) to 30 MPPA. The terminal has been
operational since 08.07.2023. Phase-II involves the development of
Terminal-3, further enhancing the airport's capacity to 35 MPPA.
The Projected Date of Completion of this phase is June, 2026.
******ANNEXURE
Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha
Unstarred Question No. 1870 for 31.07.2025
SL. NO. STATE / UT AIRPORT
1 A&N ISLAND (UT) PORT BLAIR
ANDHRA
2 KADAPA
PRADESH
ANDHRA
3 KURNOOL
PRADESH
ANDHRA
4 RAJAHMUNDRY
PRADESH
ANDHRA
5 TIRUPATI
PRADESH
ANDHRA
6 VIJAYAWADA
PRADESH
ANDHRA
7 VISAKHAPATNAM
PRADESH
ARUNACHAL
8 DONYI POLO (ITANAGAR)
PRADESH
ARUNACHAL
9 PASSIGHAT (CE)
PRADESH
ARUNACHAL
10 TEZU
PRADESH
ARUNACHAL
11 ZIRO
PRADESH
12 ASSAM DIBRUGARH (MOHANBARI)
13 ASSAM GUWAHATI (LGBI)
14 ASSAM JORHAT
15 ASSAM LILABARI (NORTH LAKHIMPUR)
16 ASSAM RUPSI
17 ASSAM SILCHAR
18 ASSAM TEZPUR
19 BIHAR DARBHANGA
20 BIHAR GAYA
21 BIHAR PATNA
22 CHANDIGARH (UT) CHANDIGARH
23 CHHATTISGARH AMBIKAPUR
24 CHHATTISGARH BILASPUR
25 CHHATTISGARH JAGDALPUR
26 CHHATTISGARH RAIPUR
27 DAMAN & DIU (UT) DIU
28 DELHI (UT) DELHI , IGI AIRPORT
29 DELHI (UT) SAFDARJUNG
30 GOA GOA
31 GOA MOPA
32 GUJARAT AHMEDABAD (SVBPI)
33 GUJARAT BHAVNAGAR
34 GUJARAT BHUJ
35 GUJARAT JAMNAGAR36 GUJARAT KANDLA
37 GUJARAT KESHOD (JUNAGARH)
38 GUJARAT MUNDRA
39 GUJARAT PORBANDAR
40 GUJARAT RAJKOT (HIRASAR)
41 GUJARAT SABARMATI RIVER FRONT (WA)
42 GUJARAT STATUE OF UNITY (WA)
43 GUJARAT SURAT
44 GUJARAT VADODARA
45 HARYANA HISAR
HIMACHAL
46 KANGRA (GAGGAL)
PRADESH
HIMACHAL
47 KULLU MANALI (BHUNTAR)
PRADESH
HIMACHAL
48 MANDI(H)
PRADESH
HIMACHAL
49 RAMPUR(H)
PRADESH
HIMACHAL
50 SHIMLA
PRADESH
JAMMU &
51 JAMMU
KASHMIR (UT)
JAMMU &
52 SRINAGAR
KASHMIR (UT)
53 JHARKHAND DEOGHAR
54 JHARKHAND JAMSHEDPUR
55 JHARKHAND RANCHI
56 KARNATAKA BELAGAVI
57 KARNATAKA BENGALURU (BIAL)
58 KARNATAKA BENGALURU (HAL)
59 KARNATAKA BIDAR
60 KARNATAKA HUBBALLI
61 KARNATAKA JINDAL VIJAYANAGAR
62 KARNATAKA KALABURAGI
63 KARNATAKA MANGALURU
64 KARNATAKA MYSURU
65 KARNATAKA SHIVAMOGGA
66 KERALA CALICUT
67 KERALA COCHIN (CIAL)
68 KERALA KANNUR (KIAL)
69 KERALA THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
70 LADAKH (UT) LEH
LAKSHDWEEP
71 AGATTI
(UT)
MADHYA
72 BHOPAL
PRADESH
MADHYA
73 DATIA
PRADESH
MADHYA
74 GWALIOR
PRADESH
MADHYA
75 INDORE
PRADESHMADHYA
76 JABALPUR
PRADESH
MADHYA
77 KHAJURAHO
PRADESH
MADHYA
78 REWA
PRADESH
MADHYA
79 SATNA
PRADESH
80 MAHARASHTRA AKOLA
81 MAHARASHTRA AMRAVATI
82 MAHARASHTRA AURANGABAD
83 MAHARASHTRA GONDIA
84 MAHARASHTRA JALGAON
85 MAHARASHTRA JUHU
86 MAHARASHTRA KOLHAPUR
87 MAHARASHTRA MUMBAI,CSMI AIRPORT
88 MAHARASHTRA NAGPUR
89 MAHARASHTRA NANDED
90 MAHARASHTRA NASIK (HAL OZAR)
91 MAHARASHTRA PUNE
92 MAHARASHTRA SHIRDI
93 MAHARASHTRA SINDHUDURG
94 MAHARASHTRA SOLAPUR
95 MANIPUR IMPHAL
96 MANIPUR JIRIBAM (H)
97 MANIPUR TAMENGLONG (H)
98 MEGHALAYA BARAPANI (SHILLONG)
99 MIZORAM LENGPUI (AIZWAL)
100 NAGALAND DIMAPUR
101 ODISHA BHUBANESWAR
102 ODISHA JEYPORE
103 ODISHA JHARSUGUDA
104 ODISHA ROURKELA
105 ODISHA UTKELA
PUDUCHERRY
106 PUDUCHERRY
(UT)
107 PUNJAB ADAMPUR (JALANDHAR)
108 PUNJAB AMRITSAR
109 PUNJAB BHATINDA
110 PUNJAB LUDHIANA
111 PUNJAB PATHANKOT
112 RAJASTHAN BIKANER
113 RAJASTHAN JAIPUR
114 RAJASTHAN JAISALMER
115 RAJASTHAN JODHPUR
116 RAJASTHAN KISHANGARH
117 RAJASTHAN KOTA
118 RAJASTHAN UDAIPUR
119 SIKKIM PAKYONG120 TAMIL NADU CHENNAI
121 TAMIL NADU COIMBATORE
122 TAMIL NADU MADURAI
123 TAMIL NADU SALEM
124 TAMIL NADU TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
125 TAMIL NADU TUTICORIN
126 TELANGANA HYDERABAD (BEGUMPET)
127 TELANGANA HYDERABAD (GHIAL)
128 TRIPURA AGARTALA
129 UTTAR PRADESH AGRA
130 UTTAR PRADESH ALIGARH
131 UTTAR PRADESH AYODHYA
132 UTTAR PRADESH AZAMGARH
133 UTTAR PRADESH BAREILLY
134 UTTAR PRADESH CHITRAKOOT
135 UTTAR PRADESH GORAKHPUR
136 UTTAR PRADESH HINDAN
137 UTTAR PRADESH KANPUR (CHAKERI)
138 UTTAR PRADESH KANPUR (CIVIL)
139 UTTAR PRADESH KUSHINAGAR
140 UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW
141 UTTAR PRADESH MEERUT
142 UTTAR PRADESH MORADABAD
143 UTTAR PRADESH PRAYAGRAJ
144 UTTAR PRADESH SHRAVASTI
145 UTTAR PRADESH VARANASI
146 UTTARAKHAND ALMORAH (H)
147 UTTARAKHAND CHAMPAWAT (H)
148 UTTARAKHAND CHINYALI SAUR (H)
149 UTTARAKHAND DEHRADUN
150 UTTARAKHAND GAUCHER (H)
151 UTTARAKHAND HALDWANI(H)
152 UTTARAKHAND MUNSYARI (H)
153 UTTARAKHAND NEW TEHRI(H)
154 UTTARAKHAND PANTNAGAR
155 UTTARAKHAND PITHORAGARH
156 UTTARAKHAND SAHASTRADHARA(H)
157 UTTARAKHAND SRINAGAR(H)
158 WEST BENGAL BAGDOGRA
159 WEST BENGAL BEHALA
160 WEST BENGAL COOCH BEHAR
161 WEST BENGAL DURGAPUR
162 WEST BENGAL KOLKATA (NSCBI)
Note: CE= Civil Enclave, H=Heliport, W A= Water Aerodrome