Prime Highlight
- The Gujarat government has initiated land acquisition for greenfield airports at Dahod and Dwarka to boost connectivity and economic development.
- The state is also focusing on expanding existing airports and building heliports in temple towns to strengthen regional transport infrastructure.
Key Facts
- The Dwarka airport will be built on 300 hectares in Vasai village, serving tourism, pilgrimage, and defense needs near the Arabian Sea.
- Gujarat’s broader plan includes the development of 11 greenfield airports across locations like Morbi, Dhordo, and Rajpipla.
Background
The government of Gujarat has initiated the acquisition of two greenfield airports at Dahod and Dwarka to enhance air connectivity in the state and to promote economic development. This action is after feasibility studies, done by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), where both sites were determined to be viable in the future in terms of the development of an airport.
The Dahod airport will cater to industrial and passenger traffic in eastern Gujarat and decrease the use of the Indore and Ahmedabad airports. The Location is still unknown, but the acquisition process is already in progress.
The Dwarka airport will be constructed in Vasai village, which is approximately 300 hectares. Almost one-half of the land will belong to the government, with the other half being bought privately. Dwarka is a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, and the airport will decrease the duration of travel to 17 hours, linking Ahmedabad to Mumbai via train. The location is also strategically beneficial to defense as it is close to the Arabian Sea.
In addition, the state is expanding Keshod airport in Junagadh district. So far, 205 acres have been acquired and handed over to AAI. Passenger numbers at Keshod rose by 39% in 2024–25. Land acquisition is also in progress to expand the Bhavnagar and Porbandar airports.
Furthermore, the government is developing new heliports in temple towns, including Somnath, Dwarka, Ambaji, and Saputara. The Dwarka heliport land is already acquired, and master planning is in progress for the other sites.
These steps are part of Gujarat’s broader plan to build 11 greenfield airports, including at Morbi, Dhordo, Rajpipla, and others, to promote regional connectivity, economic growth, and tourism development.
