India plans aviation development with 50 new airports by 2029

To meet growing domestic air traffic and improve regional access, the Centre has announced plans to develop 50 airports in the next five years across India.

K. Rammohan Naidu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, announces an ambitious blueprint to overhaul India’s aviation sector. With air travel demand growing across the country, the government plans to build 50 new airports by 2029. This programme is consistent with the larger objective of establishing India as a global aviation centre while making air travel more accessible to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

As of 2014, India had 74 operational airports. This figure has now more than doubled, reaching 162 in 2025, demonstrating strong growth in aviation infrastructure. The government intends to maintain this pace by focusing on new projects and on renovating and extending current ones. These advances are part of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) initiative, which aims to make flying more economical and accessible.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, this plan will comprise a combination of passenger and freight airports, heliports, and water aerodromes. The goal is to greatly increase regional air connectivity, which will feed local economies, improve logistics efficiency, and provide new job possibilities. Several of these projects will most likely be completed as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which ensure private sector participation and faster completion.

Furthermore, the administration sees Delhi as a future international aviation hub. With renovations to the Indira Gandhi International Airport and accompanying facilities, Delhi is positioned to become a vital hub in global aviation networks. The policy also calls for improved integration of airport planning and municipal infrastructure to achieve efficient multimodal connections.

Despite the obstacles this strategy faces, including financing, environmental clearances, and site acquisition, industry professionals are confident in the government’s dedication and vision. The expansion of India’s aviation sector is predicted to greatly boost the country’s economic growth and worldwide competitiveness.

With India’s aviation market set to become the world’s third-largest, this large-scale airport construction plan represents a proactive step towards future-ready infrastructure.