Picture used for representational purpose only

GANDHINAGAR: Revising its sanctioned funds for the Hirasar and Dholera airports, the Union ministry of civil aviation has sanctioned Rs 7,737 crore for the two airports that are being set up in Gujarat . While the Hirasar airport will come up near Rajkot, the Dholera airport is being constructed in Ahmedabad district .

A sum of Rs 2,654 crore has been sanctioned by GOI for the Hirasar airport, while Rs 5,083 has been sanctioned for the proposed international airport at Dholera. While all required clearances have been given for the Hirasar airport, work on the Dholera airport is expected to begin in 2020. The earlier sanctioned cost of the Hirasar airport was Rs 1,405 crore while the sanctioned cost of the Dholera airport was around Rs 2,500 crore.

Guruprasad Mohapatra, chairman, Airport Authority of India (AAI), said, "Airstrip development work for the Hirasar airport has already started. Actual site work for the Dholera airport is scheduled to start in October 2020 and expected to be completed in four years. The airport in Rajkot is likely to be ready before the Dholera airport".

Rajkot airport is being developed by AAI with the support of the Gujarat government. For Dholera, a joint venture SPV between AAI and Gujarat government has been formed, he added.

When asked about the rationale of setting up two international airports within 150km distance, he said, "Demand in Ahmedabad is increasing rapidly and there is a need to develop a new airport to cater to the rising demand. Like Mumbai and Delhi, Ahmedabad has become a major urban conglomerate and there is a need to develop the airport before demand-supply gap becomes huge. Rajkot has major potential to cater to the needs of people of 11 districts of Saurashtra."

