Dholera International Airport

rajan5670
Sep 16
2 min read

Dholera International Airport would be India's largest aviation transport project, located in the heart of Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), Gujarat. The project, as a Greenfield Airport in Gujarat, is planned to operate on the domestic and international sectors and bulk cargo operations. After its completion, it would not only relieve the passenger traffic from the Ahmedabad Airport but also act as a regional trade, tourism, and industrial growth driver.

Strategic Location

The Dholera International Airport will be located near the Dholera Taluka village of Navagam, approximately 80 km from Ahmedabad and 20 km from Dholera Metro City. Its connectivity benefits are unmatched—its proximity to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), expressways, and seaports such as Pipavav and Bhavnagar makes it ideally located for both passenger and freight transport. Dholera International Airport is a destination node of the Gujarat integrated transport system.

World-Class Facilities

It is developed by Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL), a special purpose vehicle constituted by the Government of Gujarat and the Airports Authority of India. Since it is a Greenfield facility, it will have world-class facilities:

Runway & Aircraft Handling: As per international standards for handling Code E aircraft like Boeing 777 and Airbus A330s.
Passenger Terminals: Domestic and international passengers will be provided with independent passenger terminals with world-class amenities.
Cargo Terminals: An Independent cargo terminal to serve the growing manufacturing and export base of Gujarat.
Smart Infrastructure: Green infrastructure planning and technology-based services as per Dholera, India's first smart city.

Project Timeline & Investment

Phase 1 of the Dholera International Airport project was launched in 2023 after completing environmental clearances and land acquisition. The first phase, to be financed at a cost of ₹1,305 crore, will go live by 2026, for approximately 10 million passengers a year. Later stages will add additional runways, terminals, and logistics space as demand increases, keeping the growth of the airport at the same rate as that of Dholera.

Economic Impact

Dholera International Airport's opening will confer multi-dimensional advantages:

Industrial & Investment Development: As there will be enhanced connectivity with the world, international investors and businesses will be attracted to establish units in Dholera SIR.
Facilitation of Trade & Cargo: Being close to ports, highways, and freight corridors, Dholera will become an intermediary hub transit point for commodities export from engineering to e-commerce.
Tourism & Real Estate Development: Tourism, hospitality, and residential development will be made easy with enhanced air connectivity along the Ahmedabad to Dholera corridors.
Job Generation: Direct and indirect jobs in thousands will be created, boosting the local economy.

Why Dholera Airport Matters?

While some airports are constructed to address near-term passenger requirements, Dholera International Airport is designed with a long-term vision. Not just an airport terminal, but an industry support base and a Gujarat smart city. Strategically placed, green building, and connected with India's largest economic corridors, it is the future of Western India's aviation transport and trade.

Final Word

Dholera International Airport project is not itself an infrastructural project—it's a strategic step towards making Gujarat a business hub of the world. This Gujarat Greenfield Airport can potentially redefine the connectivity, investment, and development of the region by 2026 and make Dholera SIR one of the fastest-developing industrial, business, and tourist destinations in India.