With India’s air traffic continuing its rapid rise, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is shifting focus from expanding airport terminals to expanding airspace capacity. According to CNBCTV-18, AAI plans to invest ₹15,000–17,000 crore to modernise air navigation services (ANS) and air traffic control (ATC) systems, enabling more aircraft to be handled within existing airspace.
65 Airports to Be Upgraded by 2029
The programme spans 65 airports, targeted for completion by 2029.
- 60% of the capex will fund civil construction, primarily new and revamped ATC towers.
- 40% will go toward technology upgrades such as automation, surveillance, and advanced navigation systems.
The objective is to streamline aircraft movements without adding new runways.
New ATC Towers at Emerging High-Traffic Hubs
AAI will build four new ATC towers at:
- Bhogapuram
- Navi Mumbai
- Dholera
- Jewar
These locations are expected to become major aviation hubs as their new airports come online. The towers will be developed alongside next-generation ANS systems.
Tiered Upgrade Approach Based on Traffic Levels
AAI will deploy different upgrade levels depending on airport congestion:
- 13 high-traffic airports (100+ movements/day):
- 5 will receive completely rebuilt towers
- 8 will undergo major tech upgrades
- 22 airports: Existing towers will be renovated and equipped with new systems.
- 26 airports: Towers will remain unchanged, but navigation and surveillance systems will be upgraded.
Addressing the Capacity Gap with Global Hubs
India’s busiest airports currently manage 44–46 aircraft movements per hour, compared with 56–57 at leading global hubs.
AAI aims to close this gap by improving:
- Automation
- Arrival/departure sequencing
- Aircraft spacing
These enhancements will allow more flights to be handled within the same airspace footprint.
Training Infrastructure to be Strengthened
To support the expanded network, AAI will scale its training facilities in Prayagraj, Hyderabad, and Gondia.
The Prayagraj centre, in particular, will receive new simulators, radar systems, and additional buildings, enabling a larger pipeline of trained controllers.
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