Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that regions connected through air connectivity experience faster and broader development. In a video message on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport today, the Prime Minister said that before 2014, India had around 70 airports, but their number has now increased to more than 160. He also noted that several airports have now been developed around Delhi. Mr. Modi said that when airports are built, they encourage entrepreneurship and tourism in nearby smaller towns and accelerate economic activities in the region. He added that the Kota Airport will open new doors of progress for Kota and surrounding areas.
Speaking at the event, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that there had been a demand for a Greenfield Airport in Kota for several decades, and now that dream is becoming a reality. He said Kota already has strong road and rail connectivity, along with adequate power and water resources. With the introduction of air connectivity, new avenues of development will open up. Mr. Birla added that while Kota is already a major educational hub, efforts are also being made to develop it as an industrial city, and many industries are expected to come up here in the near future. The region will also emerge as a hub for trade and the service sector.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on the occasion that his government is fulfilling its promises at a rapid pace. He added that several development projects are coming to the Kota region. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that the airport project will be completed within two years and flight operations will begin soon thereafter. He said that more than 1,500 crore rupees will be spent on the construction of the airport. The terminal building will reflect modern infrastructure along with glimpses of the art and culture of the Hadoti region. Before the programme, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport.
