PM Modi inaugurates 15 new airport projects
airport projects, entailing a total capital expenditure of Rs 9,800 crore and includes new terminal buildings at 12 airports such as Delhi, Lucknow Airport and Pune.
«Earlier, during the election season, people made announcements. No one asked them about the status of these projects...Before elections, they would come and lay the foundation stone. Foundation stones used to get lost, so would the politicians,» Modi said.
«You must not look at this matter from the lens of general elections...This is a journey for development, and by 2047, I aim to make India a developed country,» he added.
India is set to announce the dates for the next general elections shortly.
The government said when operational, the three new terminals, when finished, will raise the total passenger capacity to 95 lakh yearly. The 12 new terminals will handle 620 lakh passengers annually altogether.
The other projects include new airports in Uttar Pradesh at Chitrakoot, Shavasti, Azamgarh, and new terminals at Belgaum, Hubli in Karnataka Jabalpur and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.
Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Shravatsi and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh will get air connectivity for the first time.
The BJP government plans to showcase development in infrastructure as part of its campaign during the elections.
Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently said that the centre has lined up an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore to increase the number of airports from 148 to 200 in next four years.
The investment will include building a new airport,
