Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia marked a significant milestone in enhancing air connectivity across the country by inaugurating new flight routes connecting Gwalior to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Ayodhya on Tuesday.
With the commencement of these inaugural flights, Gwalior is now connected with a total of six cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ayodhya, offering a total of 33 weekly flight movements.
Highlighting the growth in air connectivity, Minister Scindia noted that before 2014, Madhya Pradesh had air connectivity with only 13 cities, and this number has now expanded to 31. Additionally, two international connections to Dubai and Sharjah have been established post-2014.
Union Minister Scindia emphasized that the project aims to showcase and enhance the economic and spiritual strengths of India through world-class connectivity. He announced the ambitious plan to construct a new terminal building in Gwalior worth Rs 500 crore, aiming to complete it in a record time of 16 months. The new airport terminal, combining modernity with antiquity, is designed to reflect the history, culture, civilization, and local ethos of Gwalior. It is anticipated to boost connectivity and economic growth in the region, covering an expansive area of 2 lakh square feet to meet future demands.
Discussing other ongoing and future projects, the Civil Aviation Minister revealed that the government is actively working on a new terminal at Jabalpur, with a budget exceeding Rs 425 crore. Additionally, plans include the development of the Rewa airport, a new airport in Datia, and a new airfield in Satna.
The government has also established three new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in Madhya Pradesh, including Asia’s first Helicopter training institute in Khajuraho. This brings the total number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh to six. Minister Scindia highlighted the remarkable increase in aircraft movements, citing that Madhya Pradesh had only 540 aircraft movements per week before 2014, and this number has now surpassed 1000.