NEW DELHI — Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday that the Noida International Airport at Jewar is set to begin operations soon. The DGCA has officially granted the airport its aerodrome licence, paving the way for a grand inauguration within the next 45 to 60 days.

The Minister confirmed that airlines are already being engaged to finalize flight schedules. Beyond Jewar, the government highlighted a massive surge in infrastructure, growing from 74 airports in 2014 to 166 operational airports today.

National Aviation Highlights

• Regional Connectivity: The UDAN scheme has operationalized 663 routes, with plans to add 120 new destinations over the next decade.
• Telangana Expansion: Work is progressing on the Mamnoor Airport in Warangal, with wide-body aircraft operations expected within two years. New sites are also being explored in Kothagudem and Adilabad.
• Greenfield Success: Out of 24 approved greenfield projects, 13 are already operational, including the recently launched Navi Mumbai and Rajkot airports.

The Minister emphasized that the rapid expansion aims to bring air connectivity to the remotest parts of India, solidifying its position as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.