Greenfield Airports

Recently, the Minister of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of a Greenfield airport in Kota, Rajasthan and Puri in Odisha.

What is a Greenfield Airport?

A greenfield airport is a new aviation facility built from scratch on previously undeveloped land.
The development of Greenfield airports is regulated by the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008.

Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy

Introduced in 2008.
Objective: Facilitate development of new airports on underdeveloped land.
Key aspects
- Approval process: Involves two stages – ‘Site Clearance’ followed by ‘In-Principle’ approval, Granted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
- Eligibility: Both state governments and private entities can propose for Greenfield Airport projects, subject to compliance with the policy guidelines.

India’s first Greenfield airport built in the northeastern region is Pakyong Airport, located in Sikkim.
Key Characteristics
- Land: Built on undeveloped or empty land, such as meadows or grasslands.
- Construction: The project is created entirely from scratch, without the need for demolishing old structures, unlike brownfield projects which involve improving existing facilities.

Advantages of Greenfield Airports

No Demolition Needed: Engineers do not have to spend time tearing down old buildings, making the construction process faster and more efficient.
Improved Connectivity
- Enhances regional and international air travel.
- Helps decongest existing airports in urban areas.
Economic Growth
- Boosts local businesses, tourism, and employment.
- Encourages investment and trade in surrounding regions.
Environmental Benefits
- Can be planned with eco-friendly measures like green energy and sustainable construction.
- Reduces pollution and congestion compared to expanding older airports.

Key points of the New Greenfield Airports in Kota and Puri

Kota Airport – A Key Development
- Location: Kota, Rajasthan
- Kota is a major educational and industrial hub.
- The airport will cater to the growing population and economic activity in the Hadoti region.
Puri Airport: Strengthening Religious Tourism
- Puri, home to Lord Jagannath, is one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites.
- Millions of devotees and tourists visit Puri every year, making air connectivity essential.
- The airport will improve direct travel between Puri and major metropolitan cities.
- This development aligns with the government’s goal of enhancing last-mile air connectivity.

Difference Between Greenfield and Brownfield Airports

Feature	Greenfield Airport	Brownfield Airport
Definition	Built from scratch on undeveloped land.	Developed on previously used land.
Land Use	Previously unused land.	Previously developed land.
Construction	Entirely new construction.	Upgrading/expansion of existing facilities.
Design	Greater flexibility in design.	Design may be constrained by existing infrastructure.
Environmental Impact	Opportunity to incorporate modern environmental standards from the start.	May involve addressing existing environmental issues.
Planning	More complex planning due to lack of prior infrastructure.	Relatively less complex planning.
Examples	Navi Mumbai International Airport (India), Noida International Airport (India)	Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi, expansion), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai, expansion)

Also Read
UPSC Daily Editorials	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
Daily Current Affairs Quiz	Daily Main Answer Writing
Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store	UPSC Test Series
Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store	Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store