Ahmedabad's Second Airport Gears Up: AAI Awards Rs 333-Crore Contract for Terminal Building In Dholera

Ahmedabad-based Yashnand Engineers and Contractors have secured the Rs 333 crore contract from Dholera International Airport Company Ltd. (DIACL) for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the airport terminal. The scope includes the integrated passenger terminal, ATC tower, cargo complex, and environmental support services (ESS), with an 18-month completion timeline.

Construction of key supporting infrastructure such as the 3,200-meter runway, taxiways, apron, and perimeter road is underway, being executed by Jodhpur-based Varaha Infra. Phase I of the greenfield airport was approved by the Union Cabinet in June 2022, with a budget of Rs 1,305 crore and a 48-month deadline.

The airport is being developed by DIACL, a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (51%), the Government of Gujarat (33%), and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (16%). Located approximately 80 km from Ahmedabad airport, Dholera International Airport is expected to commence operations by 2025-26, initially handling three lakh passengers annually and projected to grow to 23 lakh over the next two decades.

Cargo operations are projected to reach 20,000 tonnes in the first year and expand to 2,73,000 tonnes in the next 20 years. The airport will serve both passenger and cargo traffic from the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), positioning it as a major industrial and logistics hub in Gujarat, complementing Ahmedabad airport.