Development of Varanasi International Airport

• 20 Jun 2024

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved a comprehensive development plan for Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, with a projected cost of Rs 2869.65 crore.

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will oversee the project, which aims to significantly enhance the airport's passenger handling capacity.

Key Points

• The project involves building a fresh terminal, lengthening the runway, and enlarging the apron.
  • The upcoming terminal will span 75,000 square meters, catering to 6 million passengers annually and handling up to 5,000 passengers during peak hours.
  • This will showcase Varanasi's cultural heritage, providing travelers with a unique experience.
• The airport is on track to transform into an eco-friendly airport by prioritizing environmental sustainability through energy efficiency, recycling waste, reducing carbon emissions, harnessing solar power, and maximizing natural light.

Airports Authority of India (AAI)

• It was constituted by an Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 of Parliament and came into being on 1^st April 1995 by merging erstwhile National Airports Authority and International Airports Authority of India.
• The merger brought into existence a single organisation entrusted with the responsibility of creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country.