Airports for Gujarat's Dwarka, Ambaji soon

The state government is set to start developing four new airports in the state. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), New Delhi, is said to have cleared the techno-economic feasibility report for the airports, which will be constructed at Dwarka, Ambaji, Palitana and Ankleshwar.

According to highly placed sources, after August 15, the state civil aviation department will appoint consultancy firms to analyse the various aspects of developing these airports. Officials said that there are 16 consultancies out of which a couple of firms will be short-listed for the purpose.

“Prima facie the AAI officials have given the green signal of airfields at these four locations. There are other formalities that we have to seek including the design and cost of construction for which we will be relying on the consultancy firms,” said an official.

Chief minister Narendra Modi had announced the development of 11 new airports across the state in the near future at major tourist destinations, especially religious destinations like Palitana in Bhavnagar, Dwarka in Jamnagar and Ambaji in Banaskantha district.

Confirming the development, Captain Ajay Chauhan, director of Gujarat civil aviation, said that the AAI officials, who had visited the four sites and undertaken feasibility tests, informed the department that airfields are possible.

Currently, there are 20 big and small airports in the state. The state government’s decision to construct new airports is seen as a push to its tourism industry.