India's Green Revolution: Greenfield Airports Transforming Aviation

Greenfield airports are aviation facilities constructed on previously undeveloped land. They are highly sought-after by engineers as they do not require the demolition of existing buildings. In India, the government has approved the construction of 21 greenfield airports, 11 of which are currently operational. These airports include Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa, and Shivamogga. The remaining 10 airports are under construction in cities like Navi Mumbai, Vijayapura, and Noida (Jewar).

India's first public-private partnership airport

India has approved the construction of 21 greenfield airports, 11 of which are currently operational. These are Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa, and Shivamogga.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Telangana, was India's first greenfield airport built under a public-private partnership model. The airport is owned and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), a public-private consortium. The state government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) hold a 26% stake in the project, while the remaining 74% is allotted to private companies. The airport has an integrated passenger terminal, a cargo terminal, and two runways. It also has aviation training facilities, a fuel farm, a solar power plant, and two maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facilities.

Planning for the airport began in 1991 when the existing commercial airport, Begumpet Airport, was unable to handle rising passenger traffic. Initially, the state government considered converting Hakimpet Air Force Station to civilian use, but the Air Force refused. The Ministry of Defence then suggested that the state consider sites south of Begumpet Airport, and by October 1998, three possible locations had been identified: Bongloor, Nadergul, and Shamshabad. Shamshabad was selected due to its convenient location near two highways and a railway line.

In November 2000, the state government and the AAI signed a memorandum of understanding on the greenfield airport project, establishing it as a public-private partnership. Through a bidding process, a consortium consisting of Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR Group) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad was chosen as the holder of the 74% private stake. In December 2002, Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL), later renamed GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), was created as a special purpose entity, into which the state, AAI, and GMR–MAHB placed their stakes.

Construction of the airport began in March 2005 when Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone. The airport was inaugurated in March 2008, amid protests from some airlines over high ground handling rates. The airport is spread over 2,200 hectares (5,500 acres) and is the largest airport in India by area. It is the fourth busiest airport in India by passenger traffic, handling over 25 million passengers and around 150,000 tonnes of cargo between April 2023 and March 2024.

The third-busiest airport in India

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru: The Third-Busiest Airport in India

Kempegowda International Airport opened in May 2008 to ease congestion at the HAL Airport. It is listed as the third-busiest airport in India for the fiscal year 2023-24, handling over 37.5 million passengers and 439,495 tonnes of cargo.

The airport features two passenger terminals, two runways, a cargo village, and three cargo terminals, offering flights to all six inhabited continents.

Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) operates the airport under a public-private partnership. Fairfax Financial (54%), Siemens Project Ventures (20%), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) (26%) are the stakeholders in BIAL.

To accommodate increasing passenger traffic, the Kempegowda International Airport is planning to build a third terminal by 2030. This expansion will enable the airport to handle 90-100 million passengers annually.

The largest airport in India by area

India has 11 operational greenfield airports, with 'in-principle' approval granted for a further 10. Greenfield airports are those constructed from scratch on previously undeveloped land.

The first greenfield airport in Northeast India

India's first greenfield airport, the Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, opened in 2015 and is located in West Bengal's Durgapur. The airport is named after the famed poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and is part of India's first private-sector Aerotropolis.

Since the opening of the first greenfield airport, several more have been built across the country. As of November 2022, the Indian government had approved the construction of 21 greenfield airports, with 10 operational as of that date.

Another notable greenfield airport in the region is the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim, which is one of the highest-elevation airports in India. It was inaugurated in 2018 and is known for its stunning location, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. However, commercial flights to this airport are often disrupted due to inclement weather.

The first greenfield airport in Goa

Goa's first greenfield airport, the Manohar International Airport in Mopa, North Goa, was inaugurated on December 11, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The airport, named after Goa's late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, commenced flight operations on January 5, 2023.

The airport is operated by the GMR Group and is built on 2,133 acres of land at a cost of approximately ₹2,650 crores (US$330 million). It is Goa's second airport and features several sustainable elements, including LED runway lights, a solar power plant, and green buildings.

The Manohar International Airport is one of the 11 operational greenfield airports in India, with 10 more in the works. These airports are constructed from scratch on undeveloped land and are designed to minimize environmental impact.

The development of greenfield airports in India reflects a step towards sustainable development and improved connectivity. They are highly coveted by engineers as they do not involve the demolition of existing structures, allowing for more efficient planning and construction.

Frequently asked questions