Most Indian airports to be over-stressed in 5years. But why?
Owing to a massive surge in passenger numbers, Indian airports are stretched well beyond their capacity and require billions of dollars worth of investment in infrastructure, analysts have warned. As India's growing middle class, aided by better connectivity and a host of low-cost airlines, increasingly takes to the skies, infrastructure in airports are fast falling behind. Here are the details.
30-40 airports will operate beyond capacity in seven years' time
"Some top airports have reached saturation. In the next five to seven years, the top 30 to 40 airports in India will be performing beyond their capacity," said Binit Somaia, South Asia Director at the Centre for Aviation (CAPA).
600% increase in passenger numbers in a decade
In the last decade, India has seen an unbelievable 600% rise in passengers travelling via flights. According to data complied by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India only had 44 million flyers in 2008. Data by Sydney-based Centre for Aviation says that Indian airports handled 265 million domestic flyers in 2016, and that number will cross 300 million this year.
India set to overtake Britain as third-largest aviation market
According to Centre for Aviation's predictions, India is set to overtake Britain as the third-largest aviation market by 2025, and will have a massive 478 million flyers by 2036.
Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai airports soon to reach saturation point
According to a CAPA report released last month, 10 Indian airports - including Dehradun, Guwahati, Pune, Jaipur, and Srinagar - are already operating at beyond their capacities. CAPA predicts that New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and Chennai International Airport will reach their handling capacity in next 4-6 years. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is currently at 94% capacity and close to saturation.
India needs $45 billion investment in airports by 2030
In last month's budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allotted $613 million to the Airports Authority of India for infrastructural expansion and development of better facilities. However, the Indian government is in a race against time, with CAPA estimates pointing out that India needs to invest $45 billion by 2030 to keep up with the demand for air travel.
