Govt looking at developing multi-modal transport hubs at 18 major airports

To begin with the government is evaluating ways to integrate transport systems across six airports

The Centre plans to build multi-modal transport hubs across major airports.

Multi-modal transport hubs are where many systems such as airport, Metro, bus and rail merge together.

The government is mulling ways to make these hubs at six airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad. In the second phase, 12 more will be taken up.

“The old terminal at the Delhi airport is not linked to the metro. We are looking at ways to develop the hubs at all major airports, accounting for 80-85 per cent of air traffic in the country, to provide seamless connectivity,” said an official with the civil aviation ministry.

The Frankfurt airport is linked to the mass rapid transit system, rail, buses and cabs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his meetings with ministries has stressed the need to develop infrastructure facilities to propel economic growth.

“We are reaching out to states to implement this strategy of developing multi-modal transport hubs. The monthly review meetings will also give boost to such a programme as it provides a common platform for discussion”, the official said.

Modi has been holding monthly meetings with secretaries of railways, road transport and highways, civil aviation, power, coal, renewable energy, ports and shipping, telecommunications, and petroleum and natural gas ministries. These are to review the country’s infrastructure targets and achievements.

The Cabinet secretary has been mandated to ease hurdles in infrastructure development.

Modernisation of airports and development of low-cost airports for connectivity to remote and regional areas is a focus area for the government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto talks on the  “potential for (developing) inland air transportation to remote and local locations in the country. Such airstrips will be developed so low-cost air travelling becomes possible in the country.”

For the current financial year, the government has a target of developing five no-frill airports and awarding management contracts for four airports to private operators.