Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday gave in-principle approval for the development of Greenfield airports in Kota (Rajasthan) and Puri (Odisha).
The long-pending demand for an airport in Kota has finally received the green light. Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla, who has been consistently lobbying for the project, played a key role in accelerating the process. Once operational, the airport is expected to cater not just to Kota city—known as a prominent education and industrial hub—but also to the broader Hadoti region.
The new facility is expected to ease travel for thousands of students, residents, and businesses in the region, connecting them with key domestic and potentially international destinations. Officials say the airport will significantly boost the area’s economic and infrastructural growth.
Meanwhile, Puri—home to the world-famous Jagannath Temple and one of the most revered pilgrimage centres in India—is also set to get its own airport. The city attracts millions of devotees and tourists every year. The proposed airport is expected to bolster religious tourism and enhance direct connectivity with major Indian metros.
The Centre stated that the project is in line with its larger goal of ensuring last-mile air connectivity and making air travel more accessible across the country.
Both proposals mark a key milestone in the government’s infrastructure roadmap and are seen as strategic investments in unlocking the economic potential of tier-2 and tier-3 cities.