India’s Union Cabinet approves ₹1,507 crore greenfield airport at Kota-Bundi

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, on Tuesday, cleared a proposal to set up a greenfield airport at Kota-Bundi in Rajasthan, with an estimated investment of ₹1,507 crore. 

The project will be developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and is expected to handle nearly two million passengers annually.

The upcoming facility will include a 20,000 sq. m passenger terminal capable of accommodating 1,000 travellers during peak hours. A 3,200-metre runway will allow operations of aircraft such as the Airbus A320, while the apron will have parking bays for multiple narrow-body planes. The Rajasthan government has already allocated 440 hectares of land to the AAI for the project.

The need for a new airport arose as the existing Kota airstrip, constrained by urban surroundings, has limited capacity—its small terminal can only handle about 50 passengers and Code-B aircraft. The new development is expected to significantly improve air connectivity in the Hadoti region, boosting tourism, education, and trade.

This approval follows the Civil Aviation Ministry’s in-principle nod granted in May 2025 after sustained efforts by Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Cabinet clearance, Birla said the airport would “transform connectivity” and open up new opportunities for the region’s economy.

Part of a larger ₹9,814 crore infrastructure package, the project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Construction is expected to begin soon, with completion targeted within two years.