AAI may close deal with Gujarat for Dholera airport by mid-August

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) was likely to finalize a deal with the Gujarat government by next month for the proposed Rs 2,000 crore Dholera airport, a senior state official said.

“We have already sent the proposal to them (AAI) and they have accorded in-principle approval for it. We hope that by mid-August we will be able to finalize it,” chief secretary, Gujarat government, Jagdip Narayan Singh told PTI here.

The airport is set to come up in Greenfield city under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project at Dholera and will be built over four years. Speaking about the need for the airport, Singh explained that Ahmedabad already had heavy traffic and needed an alternative.

He said Dholera would be the next growth center for the state, with a need for robust transport infrastructure.

An equity participation between AAI and Gujarat has been agreed at 51% and 49%, respectively.