
Kota to get a new airport! The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) proposal to develop a green field Airport in Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan. The new airport will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1507 crore. The Rajasthan Government has allocated 440.06 hectares of land to AAI for the airport’s development, which will accommodate A-321 type aircraft.
Kota green field airport: Top things to know
The project includes a Terminal Building covering 20,000 sqm, designed to handle 1,000 peak hour passengers (PHP) and an annual capacity of 2 million passengers per annum (MPPA). It will also feature a 3200m x 45m runway 11/29, an apron with 7 parking bays for A-321 aircraft, two link taxiways, an ATC-cum-technical block, a fire station, a car park, and related infrastructure.Kota, located along the Chambal River, is known as Rajasthan’s industrial capital and is also famous as India’s Educational Coaching Hub.Kota’s significance in the educational and industrial fields makes the greenfield Airport an essential infrastructure project, designed to manage the expected increase in traffic in the area. The current Kota Airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and features a runway (08/26) measuring 1220 m x 38 m, which is suitable for Code ‘B’ aircraft like the DO-228.The airport also has an apron that can accommodate two such aircraft. The terminal building covers an area of 400 sqm and can handle 50 passengers during peak times. However, the existing airport cannot be expanded for commercial operations due to limited land availability and the surrounding urban development.