Gujarat's Dholera airport project gets Centre's green nod

Dholera airport will have a capacity for 1,200 domestic and international passengers

The Centre has given environment clearance for development of the Rs 1,378-crore greenfield international airport at Dholera in Ahmedabad.

"Based on the recommendations of green panel EAC, the Environment Ministry has given clearance to the project, Development of Dholera Greenfield International Airport, by Airport Authority of India," a ministry official said.

The approval has been given subject to compliance of certain conditions, the official said.

The Dholera airport will be developed in three phases and the cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 1,378 crore, the official added.

The new airport is expected to reduce air traffic load at the existing Ahmedabad airport, which has no space for expansion of terminal and construction of the second runway.

The capacity of the existing Ahmedabad airport is 25 million passengers per annum, which is likely to saturate during 2024-25, according to the current traffic forecast, the official said.

Dholera airport, which would be developed in 3,525 acres owned by the state government, will have two runways and the terminal building will have a capacity for 1,200 domestic and international passengers.

During the construction phase, 250 persons per day will get direct employment while 900 persons will get indirect employment opportunity. During the operation phase, about 600 people will get direct employment while about 2,200 persons will get indirect employment, as per the proposal.

The proposed airport is initiated and promoted by the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) and will be developed by Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL) on public private partnership (PPP) basis.