Rajkot International Airport, name changed and view changed, lost

July 2024
An airport has been built for Saurashtra at a cost of Rs 1400 crore. There is no place to start international flights, the terminal work is incomplete, the roof has collapsed, many complaints came from the airport administration.
Ten months ago, in September-2023, it was inaugurated with much fanfare and there was much talk about connecting Saurashtra with international air routes, speed of development and other things. But, after a massive investment of Rs 1400 crore, the Rajkot International Airport is still only in name, with no clue as to when international flights will be available.

The demand for air travel among people has increased tremendously, the number of passengers at Rajkot airport has doubled in five years and currently handles more than 80,000 passengers every month. But, despite the increase in revenue and passenger numbers, no plans have been announced as to when international flights will resume. Not only this, despite doubling the number of passengers, the number of flights has not been increased accordingly.

Earlier, after widespread complaints of shortfalls in airport services, BJP leaders who visited the site had announced that the airport terminal would be completed by March-2024, but today, even in July-2024, the terminal has not been completed and no official announcement has been made as to when it will be completed.

Recently, part of the canopy of this international airport, which has been the pride of place, collapsed due to water load. When contacted regarding this serious incident, Airport Director Digant Bora did not give any public reply on which agency did the work at what cost, why the delay, how and by whom this negligence in the canopy was done and what steps were taken for it. The details of whose money the airport is built from and from whose money the airport officials get salaries and perks have not been made public.

Leaders are interested in lavish buildings costing billions and praising them, but after the buildings fall into disrepair, there is a lack of dedicated and specifically ‘responsible’ officials to manage them for the public.