Plan for over 100 airports for smaller cities by 2020: PM

The first airport to come up in Kishangarh town in Rajasthan's Ajmer district

Smaller destinations in the country will have air connectivity, with a network of more than 100 airports planned to meet the expected passenger load capacity of 30 crore by 2020, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.

The first such airport would come up in Kishangarh town in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, he said after laying the foundation stone for the development of the airport, which is scheduled to be operational by 2016.

"An ambitious scheme to develop a network of 100 smaller airports in the country is being implemented. The focus earlier was on developing airports in metro cities; now, more than 100 airports will be set up in small towns and cities," Singh said.

"This will enhance air connectivity in the country. Kishangarh airport will be the first project under this scheme," he said, adding that it would also meet requirement of increasing passenger load, which is expected to be around 30 crores by 2020.

The prime minister said the Kishangarh airport, to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 161 crore in the first phase, would accelerate economic activities and growth in the area.

"Ajmer is a noted tourist destination, having the famous dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and a Brahma temple in Pushkar town. Besides, the region is known for industries, including that of marble and the new project of airport will push economic growth," he said.